Illegal immigrant found near Redbourn smuggling ‘bundles of Euros’ sent to jail
A man will appear in court - Credit: Archant
An illegal immigrant found in a car on the M1 near Redbourn with 152,000 Euros hidden inside the vehicle has been jailed for 21 months.
Albanian Fatjon Shehu, 28, appeared at St Albans Crown Court for sentencing last Friday (2) after pleading guilty to a single offence of concealing criminal property.
The haul, worth around £120,000, was hidden in the rear of the car.
Daniel Siong, prosecuting, told the court that at about 6pm on June 4 last year police in a marked patrol car stopped a Saab travelling south along the M1, close to junction 9.
The defendant was in the car and officers noticed he was extremely nervous.
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The prosecutor said Shehu gave a false name and was taken to St Albans police station.
Upon examination of the car, two packages were found hidden behind a seat.
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At first officers thought they must contain drugs, but on closer inspection it was discovered the packages contained bundles of Euros.
The court was told his home address in Ampthill, Beds, was searched but nothing could be found explaining his link to the cash.
Shehu told police he had been acting in a courier role for the cash and expected to earn £200.
The court heard he had no previous convictions either in the UK or in his native Albania.
Judge Andrew Bright QC was told that the defendant had previously been deported from this country but had returned illegally.
Passing sentence the judge told Shehu he got involved in an operation to smuggle money for “illicit purposes”.
Telling him it was a serious offence, Shehu was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment.
