Money launderer had £25k cash stashed in cistern at Black Country crack house
A money launderer found with almost £25,000 in a house where crack cocaine was being prepared for sale has been jailed for 10 months.
Businessman Asif Majid’s cash was found hidden in a toilet cistern when police swooped on an address in Springfield Road, Halesowen, almost three years ago, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.
The 34-year-old was in the property with Shamsul Islam, a 32-year-old who had fallen into debt after getting hooked on cocaine.
“Both were in the house where there was clear evidence of drugs being packaged up,” said Mr Peter Arnold, prosecuting.
Islam went into the back garden with a large tub and threw it over the fence where it was recovered by police officers.
When the contents were added to the 214 wraps already prepared for street deals there was £8,640 worth of cocaine.
But the £24,260 cash stash also discovered during the search of the address had nothing to do with the drugs dealing, it was alleged.
Majid maintained the money came from a business acquaintance who had not paid tax on it and wanted to invest it in a project.
Mr Andrew Baker, defending Islam, from West Street, Blackheath, explained: “He was highly regarded but fell into drug use, acquired debt and was put under pressure by the violent people to whom the money was owed.”
Mr Balbir Singh, representing Majid, of Mincing Lane, Rowley Regis, maintained the defendant had encountered difficulties after purchasing a property and had been looking for an investor to buy into the deal.
Islam, of previous good character, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to supply.
He was given a 16-month jail term suspended for two years with an order to complete a rehabilitation course.
Judge Peter Barrie told him: “You got yourself into a situation where you were under pressure after becoming addicted to cocaine and falling into debt to your supplier. You then played a very limited role in a sophisticated enterprise.”
He said to Majid, who had previous convictions and admitted money laundering: “You may not have been involved in drug dealing but are an intelligent, driven businessman who knew what was going on.”
