Illegal money service bureau owner prosecuted by CPS

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) prosecuted Gheshlaghian, of Newham in East London, following an investigation conducted by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

For years, the defendant operated as part of a network of ‘hawala’ bankers, transferring money to and from other countries. ‘Hawala’ banking – an operation that’s outside of, or otherwise parallel to traditional banking – is legal in the UK if the operator is registered as a money service business and conducts lawful business.

However, from 2018 onwards, Gheshlaghian ran this business unregistered and used it to launder ill-gotten funds from criminals whom he knew were smuggling migrants into the UK on an illegal basis.

The prosecution used a range of evidence to build a strong case including Whatsapp chat logs, business ledgers, statements from asylum seekers and footage from an undercover investigation by ITV, which proved Gheshlaghian took money from people who were seeking access to the UK and paid it on to the smugglers once they had arrived.

Unregulated business

Michael Oatley, unit head for the CPS, said: “Asghar Gheshlaghian knowingly ran an unregulated money service business to help criminal gangs smuggle people into the UK illegally. People smugglers treat vulnerable migrants desperate for a better life as ‘goods’, often putting their safety and even lives at risk for the sake of profit. Through his money laundering service and for his own financial gain, Gheshlaghian helped fund and facilitate dangerous criminals who exploited migrants and undermined UK border security.”

Oatley added: “This prosecution sends a clear message that the CPS, alongside law enforcement, will work tirelessly to help dismantle criminal networks trying to facilitate illegal immigration.”

Enabling criminality

NCA branch commander Mark Howes added: “By his own admission, Asghar Gheshalghian was trusted by organised crime gangs to handle their payments and launder the money they made through organising dangerous Channel boat and lorry crossings. In doing so, he enabled their criminality and happily took a cut from the profits they made.”

Further, Howes observed: “Crossing the Channel illegally in boats or lorries is extremely dangerous and can have fatal consequences. This is why disrupting and dismantling the gangs involved in organised immigration crime is a priority for the NCA. Targeting their financial flows through agents like Gheshalghian is just one of the ways in which we are doing so.”