Gang Who Used 'WhatsApp' To Organise £10m Money Laundering Operation Jailed

Tuesday, 3 May 2016 14:29

Manchester-based operation thwarted after postmaster became suspicious.

Six men are beginning jail sentences after each admitted becoming concerned in a £10m money laundering arrangement, using the smartphone messaging system to organise the plot.

The operation - based at Broughton Business Centre on Broughton Lane in Salford and a second address near Manchester city centre - was brought down by a surveillance operation by the Regional Organised Crime Unit, spanning between April and November 2014.

Conspirators collected bags from drug dealers and fraudsters and paid it into banks in Cheetham before wiring it to accounts held in Hong Kong. The postmaster of the Hightown Post office at Waterloo Road, Cheetham Hill, reported his concerns after about £3m in deposits were made by the gang.

30-year-old Razwan Munir, of Egerton Drive, Hale, was the coordinator of the operation, he was jailed for nine years.

Beneath him in the conspiracy was 34-year-old Mohammed Kamran Chaudhry, of Chatburn Road, Chorlton. He was jailed for four years and seven months.

36-year-old, Nokhaiz Haider, of Broomhurst Avenue, Oldham, was the scam’s book keeper, he was sentenced to four-and-a-half years.

23-year-old, Imran Sarwar, of Prospect Drive, Hale Barns, was jailed for four-and-a-half years.

36-year-old, Umar Haq, of Edge Lane, Chorlton, was jailed for three years.

51-year-old, Waqar Afzal, of Arlington Road, Stretford, was jailed for three years.

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