Muslim Money Launderers Jailed

From This is Kent:

AN investigation by Counter Terrorism Command officers has resulted in two men being jailed for money laundering offences after one was caught with £600,000 hidden in a washing machine.

El-Hassan Bouhafna, 45, of south west London, and Karim Bernia, 39, of east London, appeared at the Old Bailey on August 25.

Bouhafna pleaded guilty to laundering £85,000 and was jailed for 21 months.

Bernia admitted laundering £600,000 and was sentenced to four and a half years.

The operation was uncovered on March 21 when Bouhafna was pulled over at Dover docks as part of a routine check. Officers searching his van found £85,000 in the cab and then uncovered the washing machine full of cash in the back of the vehicle.

An investigation, carried out by terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police, resulted in the arrest of Bernia and two other men at an east London address on March 24.

Bernia and Bouhafna were charged with the crimes on April 1. Two other men were released without charge.

The money has been confiscated.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "It was an investigation by Counter Terrorism Command due to the large amount of money involved. This type of enquiry is very sensitive and so we need to hold a lot of the details back."