Man admits trying to smuggle 'dirty money' out of Glasgow Airport
Lukas Pokorny was stopped by police before he could board his flight to Dubai last November
Last updated 1st Feb 2021
A Czech man who tried to smuggle almost £900,000 in dirty money out of Glasgow airport is now being bars.
Lukas Pokorny was stopped by police as he was due to board a flight to Dubai last November.
The 41 year-old claimed he was flying out to help a friend run a jet-ski school.
But, UK Border Force officers went on to uncover a total of £867,030 in mixed currencies stashed inside three suitcases.
At the High Court in Glasgow on Monday Pokorny pleaded guilty to a charge under the Proceeds of Crime Act of attempting to remove the money from the country.
He was remanded in custody pending sentencing next month.
Prosecutor Alex Prentice QC told the court: "Pokorny has no previous convictions and would not normally attract the attention of law enforcement authorities.
"As such, he is an ideal courier for criminal gangs.
"The various currencies and denominations indicate the money was being transported to be laundered."
The court was told Pokorny had a "taxi business" in his homeland prior to his arrest.
No further background about the money was given.
Responding to the conviction, Detective Inspector Tom Gillan of the Organised Crime Partnership said:
“Targeting the movement of criminal cash and profits from organised crime groups in Scotland remains a priority.
“The arrest and conviction of Pokorny is another excellent example of the value of partnership working between Organised Crime Partnership, Border Force and National Crime Agency officers.
“I welcome his conviction and the fact that a significant amount of laundered cash has been taken out of criminal circulation.”
NCA regional head of investigations for Scotland Gerry McLean added:
“This was a significant seizure of criminal cash, the proceeds of organised crime. Taking it out in has prevented that money being invested into further criminal activity, violence and exploitation on the streets of Scotland.
“Working with partners including Police Scotland and Border Force we are determined to do all we can to disrupt the flow of illicit finance.”
The Organised Crime Partnership (Scotland) is an investigation team comprising of officers and staff from Police Scotland and the National Crime Agency.
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