A COVENTRY man who tried to take £250,000 out of the UK by hiding it in the wheel arches of a vehicle has been jailed for two years.
Etmund Nikolla, from Westbury Road, was stopped at the Channel Tunnel in January 2018 which prompted an investigation by the National Crime Agency.
His Mercedes Vito van was searched by Border Force officers and two wooden hides were found over his wheel arches.
When opened, they contained almost £250,000 which had been concealed underneath nappies.
A further £5,000 and 3,000euros were found in a washbag within the vehicle.
The 41-year-old denied all knowledge of the cash, claiming he was travelling to Italy to buy sports bikes.
However, fingerprints were found on both hides which matched Nikolla’s and he was charged with money laundering.
Nikolla was convicted after a trial in October and was sentenced to two years in prison at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday.
The cash has been seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Mark Howes, Branch Commander at the NCA, said: “Cash fuels organised crime and this amount would have been invested into further criminality.
“Couriers like Nikolla provide an essential service for organised criminals and removing these funds from the chain and jailing this money launderer will deal a huge blow for the people he was working for.
“The National Crime Agency is committed to ensure money launderers face justice.”
