Customs seizes suspected drugs cash

Customs Officers have obtained a court order to confiscate £14,000 in cash – which is believed to be linked to drugs trafficking – following the interception of two men at Waterloo Station.

The pair had flown from Gatwick Airport that morning to Schipol Airport, Amsterdam. They had both been refused entry into Holland and were returned to Gatwick, and upon their return the pair purchased tickets for the Eurostar to Paris. However, they were then refused entry to France by French Immigration Authorities based at Waterloo International.

Due to the fact that the men were unable to give a viable reason for having such a large sum of money about their person and "the number of inconsistencies within their explanations", Customs officers were able to prove that the "balance of probability" pointed to indirect links to drug trafficking and that the money was awarded to Customs as a drugs forfeiture.

Customs and Excise spokesperson, Liz Challand, said: "The confiscation shows that both the Courts and Customs regard tackling the proceeds of crime very seriously. This was an excellent detection by our officers at Waterloo and we are determined in their pursuit of drug smugglers and the prevention of drugs reaching our streets."

(gmcg)