Man due to fly to Beirut from Heathrow arrested after £1m found in suitcases

A man was arrested at Heathrow Airport after £1 million was found in suitcases as he tried to board a flight to Beirut.

Mazen Al Shaar, 48, was stopped by Border Force officers on Saturday and the money was seized.

Al Shaar, from Hayes, Middlesex, was due to fly to the Lebanon capital.

He was charged with money laundering and appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A bail application was refused and he was remanded in custody to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on the 17 April for a pre-trial plea hearing.

Andy Noyes, National Crime Agency (NCA) branch commander, said: “So many of the serious and organised crime threats facing the UK are driven by offenders’ desire for money.

“This detection of £1m was because of brilliant work by Border Force officers which has now sparked our investigation.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: "This seizure highlights Border Force's dedicated efforts to protect our borders and keep the public safe. Our officers are trained to spot suspicious behaviour and identify attempts to move illicit cash and other prohibited items across our borders.

"We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners, including the NCA to disrupt criminal networks."