£9m 'money laundering racket stretched from Wolverhampton to India and Holland'

The jury heard how the men allegedly conspired to launder more than nine million pounds in just one year, with an expert suggesting a total of £9,714145 was laundered.

Nardeep Sodhi, aged 34, of Waterside Close, Wolverhampton appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Friday charged with conspiracy to acquire or control criminal property, namely cash between January 1 2013 and May 14 2015.

Also on trial but not present in court was Jagdish Brar, aged 58, of Hill Street, Wellingborough based in Northamptonshire.

Prosecutor Miss Jennifer Josephs told the court how Mr Sodhi and Mr Brar, who both pleaded not guilty to the charge, were found a Volkswagon Passat on May 13 2014 in Greenock Crescent, in Parkfields, Wolverhampton.

Mr Sodhi was found in the front passenger seat with £39,990 in a carrier bag at his feet whilst Mr Brar was in the back of the car.

The prosecution say that both men were fully aware of what was going on when they got in the car on that day.

Miss Josephs said: "This was methodical, organised and secret.

"It was a shady deal happening out of a car.

"A money laundering expert has reviewed the evidence and in his opinion, looking at the evidence the total amount laundered in a year that he came to was £9,714145 which gives us an indication of just how much money was involved.

"The issue is not whether the defendants were in the car, but the explanation as to why they were there."

The court heard how Mr Sodhi alleges he was travelling to pick up a rental car when he was stopped. He told police officers in his original interview that he did not know what was in the carrier bag at his feet.

Mr Brar said in his interview to police that the reason he had travelled from his home in Wellingborough to Wolverhampton was to see a back specialist after returning from India.

The trial continues.