COUPLE 'LAUNDERED UKP67M IN DRUG CASH'

A husband and wife commuted weekly to London with millions of pounds
of drugs money in suitcases in a huge money laundering operation, a
court heard yesterday.

Tarsem Sabharwal, 62, and his wife, Bimla Kumari, 59, changed a total
of UKP67 million into Dutch guilders in 14 months of trips from
Birmingham, it was alleged.

James Wadsworth, QC, for the prosecution, told Birmingham Crown Court
that the couple transferred the cash on behalf of unknown people who
were involved in drug trafficking. The couple made two or three trips
a week from Birmingham to the West End with suitcases full of notes,
running to about UKP1 million a week.

Mr Wadsworth said that the couple were caught by Customs officers
after attempting to transfer UKP950,000 in cash into foreign currency
on May 18 last year.

The court heard that the officers watched through closed circuit
television cameras as Mrs Kumari handed over bags stuffed with cash in
the back room of a money-changing business in the Sloane Street area
of London.

Mr Sabharwal claimed that the money was from the clothing trade and
that he was accommodating clients who wanted it converted into
guilders. The couple deny conspiracy to facilitate the retention of
the proceeds of drug trafficking. The trial continues.