Two women were detained at Heathrow Airport with more than £1,000,000 in their suitcases
During the search, the passengers were found in possession of 982,000 pounds and 186,000 Canadian dollars. They failed to submit a passenger red customs declaration, despite being obligated to do so.
2025-07-09 18:46 | By [Firstname Lastname]
Security officials at Heathrow Airport detained two women after customs agents discovered more than £1 million in cash hidden in their luggage. The incident occurred during a routine baggage inspection in Terminal 5 after the pair arrived on an international flight flagged for secondary screening.
According to airport authorities, the passengers, both in their late twenties and reportedly travelling from Toronto, Canada, were selected for a customs check based on profiling indicators and irregularities in their customs declaration forms. They had declared no cash or valuables, raising immediate red flags.
During the inspection, customs officers found tightly packed bundles of banknotes, mostly in British pounds and Canadian dollars, concealed within layers of clothing and false bottoms in the suitcases. Preliminary counting revealed £982,000 and CAD $186,000, the equivalent of approximately £1.1 million in total.
Both women were taken into custody for questioning and are under investigation by the UK Border Force and the National Crime Agency (NCA). Authorities believe the large quantity of undeclared currency may be linked to an international money laundering scheme or organised criminal activity.
“Failing to declare large sums of cash when entering the UK is a serious offence, especially when there is suspicion it may be criminal property,” said a spokesperson for the Border Force. “This seizure is part of our ongoing efforts to combat illicit finance entering the country.”
Investigators are now working with Canadian law enforcement and Interpol to trace the source and intended use of the money. Surveillance footage from the departure airport is being reviewed, and the women’s travel histories and electronic devices have been seized for analysis.
Legal experts say that the case highlights the increasing use of couriers, sometimes unaware of the broader implications, to transport large amounts of illicit funds across international borders. The women reportedly denied knowing the true amount and claimed they were carrying cash for a friend.
They remain in custody pending further inquiries, and formal charges have yet to be filed. Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, authorities can seize money suspected of being derived from criminal conduct, even without a conviction, provided they can justify the suspicion.
As investigations continue, officials urge all travellers to be aware of legal obligations regarding currency declarations. Any amount over €10,000 (or equivalent) must be reported to UK customs upon entry. The case has reignited discussion over how airports detect and prevent financial crime.