Former glamour model 'smuggled £5m in suitcases into Dubai for £100m scheme'
A court has heard a former glamour model allegedly helped to smuggle £5million of criminal cash into Dubai, as part of a £100million smuggling ring.
Jo-Emma Larvin, 44, was alleged to have hidden cash in suitcases on fights from Heathrow in 2020.
Ms Larvin travelled with her partner Jonathan Johnson, 55, on her second trip to Dubai. The couple lives together in Ripon, Yorkshire.
Both Ms Larvin and Mr Johnson denied removing criminal property from the UK along with their co-accused Amy Harrison, 27, of Worcester Park, Surrey, Beatrice Auty, 26, of Fulham, west London, and Liam Rabone, 29, of West Kensington, London.
Prosecutor Julian Christopher KC said: “Each of the defendants is alleged to have played a significant part in the transportation of very large amounts of cash - English and Scottish banknotes - out to Dubai from Heathrow.
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Larvin denies the charges against her (PA)
Larvin once dated boxer Joe Calzaghe (PA)“Millions of pounds worth, carried in suitcases checked in as luggage as they were flying as passengers.”
The court heard the alleged smuggling ring members would fly business class to take luggage packed with everyday items in an attempt to conceal the cash.
Ms Larvin and Ms Harrison were accused of smuggling an estimated £2.2 million in seven cases in August 2020, followed by a further £2.8million in eight suitcases the following month.
The pair were arrested in March last year (Phil Harris)
Jo Emma Larvin outside Isleworth Crown Court (Phil Harris)The pair were arrested in March last year.
Ms Auty, meanwhile, took three trips from Heathrow to Dubai and was only charged with attempting to remove criminal cash on the third. The National Crime Agency intercepted cases on only this trip.
She is accused of “assisting” with 11 other trips by ferrying other alleged smugglers to the airport and loading cash into suitcases.
Ms Harrison is alleged to have taken two trips and smuggled £6million, and the court heard that Mr Rabone, reported to have family in Dubai, made three trips with a similar total, the court heard.
Isleworth Crown Court heard that smugglers could be paid about £3,000, as well as expenses, for a few days' worth of stay in Dubai.
It was said that 83 trips successfully took place over 18 months by organiser Abdulla Alfalasi; although two more were unsuccessful because travellers were stopped at Heathrow before the plane took off.
Mr Christopher said: “The total amount of cash removed in those 83 occasions is in the region of £100m.”
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Mr Christopher added that cash amounting to over 10,000 euros leaving the EU needs to be declared to HMRC.
He said: “Then the couriers would have a few days in Dubai before flying back with cases that were very considerably lighter than when they went out - so they could be used again.
“Their expenses were paid for, their hotel accommodation, and they were paid something like £3,000 each for the trip.”
The trial continues.
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