On January 15th, 2008 F and B, checked in with four suitcases at Heathrow Airport on a flight bound for Iran. The suitcases contained just over 1.16 million sterling pounds (23 million Mexican Pesos). Evidence demonstrates that both individuals had made at least 30 voyages to Iran since June 2006.
F admitted to transporting money three or four times on previous visits to Iran. The money had been given to him by M.
The Bank of Iran issued several receipts to F and B for transactions occurring before January 15, 2008.
M's lawyer stated to British authorities that his client earned revenues in Mexico. F stated that M was involved in real estate deals in Mexico.
The prosecutor maintains that these sums of money are derived from criminal activities.
At that stage of the process, it was presumed that the criminal activity was drug trafficking, because of the large quantity of money in small denominations and the money originating from several places in the United Kingdom. The large sums of money are indicative of drug trafficking.
The proceeds related to the sale and trafficking of drugs in the United Kingdom were laundered through financial institutions in Iran and through investments in various countries, such as Mexico. Several documents involving IXE BANCO SA MEXICO (sic) were discovered.
Iran (Islamic Republic of)Mexico
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandBritish authorities requested legal assistance in obtaining written declarations from several employees of IXE BANCO MEXICO (sic) and from the president of the company JAV, S.A. DE C.V., in acquiring criminal records for Human Mafinejad, Yahaya Forozan and Khadileith Behdob and in verifying if any of the accused owned any real estate in Mexico.
