Drug-Money Launderers Jailed

Two money launderers who washed nearly £20m in suspected drug profits – once exchanging €500,000 stuffed inside a suitcase – have been jailed.

Andrew Barnett, 45, (pic.top) of Nelson Road, Twickenham and Daniel Keenan, 41, (pic.mid) of Winslade House, Egham Hill, Egham were involved in over 300 cash transactions, of which 22 were over £400,000.

Despite a complex web of companies and money transfers they hoped would cover their tracks the duo were arrested by the Metropolitan Police’s National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit, part of the Counter Terrorism Command.

Barnett was caught on November 26, 2009 after he exchanged €500,000 (pic.bottom) at a money service bureau in Marble Arch.

Four days later Keenan claimed he ran a Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs-licensed money service bureau and Barnett was his business partner involved in a legitimate transaction.

However, the HMRC license was fraudulently obtained and the €500,000 was destined for a Gibraltar- registered company – Furnbroke – which the defendants had set up with a cloned corporate identity.

Southwark Crown Court Judge Nicholas Lorraine-Smith announced: “We can only assume the proceeds were from Class A drugs.”



Both pleaded guilty to converting criminal property and Barnett received six years imprisonment and Keenan eleven years.

Keenan also admitted dishonestly obtaining a passport and using a false identity to open a bank account.



Detective Superintendent Teri Nicholson from the Counter Terrorism Command said: “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of their offences and we hope it sends a clear deterrent message to others involved in trying to launder the proceeds of crime.



“Andrew Barnett and Daniel Keenan went to great lengths to make their enterprise appear a legitimate business.”