‘PHONEY PASSPORT PRODUCTION BUSTED’

Lamine Arribet a 33-year-old unemployed male living in Streatham South London, came to the attention of the Metropolitan’s Human Trafficking Team during 2005, after it was discovered that he had been producing and supplying false European passports and identity documents using numerous identities for financial gain. The case was referred to the London Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART) for a detailed financial investigation in order to establish the true extent of benefit derived from his criminal activity.

RART and Human Trafficking officers worked closely in order to identify assets linked to Arribet. It was discovered that he was banking the proceeds of these sales through ATM machines. Arribet employed this tactic in an effort to avoid raising the suspicion of bank staff as his deposits were numerous. This is a classic money laundering technique and is known as ‘smurfing.’ Once these funds had been deposited Arribet would then process them through an intricate network of bank accounts used in a futile attempt to confuse investigators following the financial trail. This technique known as ‘cross firing’ and is a further example of classic money laundering techniques used by Arribet. Arribet would then withdraw the proceeds in cash when it is believed that he would then send them to France and Algeria.

RART officers with the assistance with a dedicated RART Crown Prosecution Service lawyer obtained a Restraint Order against Arribet’s assets. A search of Arribet’s home address followed resulting in the seizure of passports and equipment used to produce these false documents together with a further £60,724.63 in cash. Arribet was arrested and charged with forgery and counterfeiting.

Despite his protests that only £20,000 of the seized cash could be attributed to him, Arribet eventually conceded, after RART officers were able to prove the flow of criminal funds through the various accounts, that all the bank accounts under restraint were his.

This complex investigation which had involved an intricate financial trail to provide the evidence against Arribet allowed His Honour Judge Pratt to impose a confiscation order for £48,026 with 3 months to pay. If Arribet fails to comply with the order he will face an additional 18-month prison sentence.

London RART stated, “This case demonstrates the ability of London RART, working closely with police and the banks to frustrate criminals who maintain liquid assets for ease of disposal if compromised.  By using restraint powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act, London RART have demonstrated that they are determined to strip criminals of all their assets, despite their best attempts to hide them from investigators".