Streatham £5m money launderer sent back to prison after investigation into Tooting operation

A corrupt businessman responsible for a £5 million money laundering scam has been sent back to prison for flouting the terms of his release.

Shafiq Ahmed, 59, from Leigham Court Road, Streatham, was today, November 3 sentenced to a year in prison at Kingston Crown Court for breaching his Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO).

The owner of a money transfer business had failed to notify cops that he had investments in four properties, was a shareholder of a travel company, and director of two other firms.

He had to hand over a phone and two SIM cards after investigators found a string of bank accounts and mobile phones at his home – which he claimed were his daughter’s.

Ahmed was originally jailed in June 2013 for running a criminal network responsible for laundering millions of pounds from his base in Tooting, London.

Following a National Crime Agency investigation, Ahmed was sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court to eight years in prison. He was released on licence in July 2017 having served half his sentence.

At the same court, on 23 October 2014, Ahmed had been forced to hand over £829,427 in criminal gains and profits from his firms.

An SCPO was also granted by the court, to prevent him from committing serious crimes again.

The order limited the number of bank accounts and cash he could have, and how many mobile phones and computers he could use. Ahmed also had to tell the NCA of any work he did and his home and business addresses.

But Ahmed violated the terms of his SCPO multiple times.

NCA officers found a mobile phone and SIM cards plus details of many undeclared accounts, companies, and properties at his home on August 5. They also found almost £1,000 in cash and credit and debit cards.

He had access to over 15 personal and business bank accounts, two of which were opened two months after he left prison.

He had not declared interest in four properties, was a shareholder of a travel company, and director of two other businesses, the NCA found.

Ahmed dismissed allegations of breaching his SCPO by saying that the phones and keys to multiple houses were his daughter’s. He continued to deny responsibility for the crimes.

Alison Abbott of the NCA’s lifetime management unit said: “Money laundering drives serious and organised crime, and the seriousness of Shah’s offending made it vital that he was subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order when leaving prison.

“Shah tried to pull the wool over our eyes, and repeatedly claimed he did not have any formal employment or source of income. But our investigation showed that he had repeatedly breached his order.

“We will use all the tools available to us, like SCPOs, to disrupt serious and organised crime.”

SCPOs are a form of civil order used to stop serious offenders having lifelong criminal careers. The orders put restrictions on offenders designed to prevent, restrict or disrupt their involvement in serious crime.