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Two men charged after £90k found in lorry in Eastern Docks in Dover

Two men have been charged with money laundering offences after a large amount of cash was found in a vehicle attempting to leave the UK.

Adrian Hij, 31, and Gheorghe Ionesi, 48, were stopped in a lorry by Border Force officers at the Eastern Docks in Dover on Monday.

The money was stashed in a hidden compartment. Photo: NCA
The money was stashed in a hidden compartment. Photo: NCA

A search of the lorry revealed the cash hidden in a specially-prepared section of the centre console.

Separate stashes were found in a suitcase and overhead lockers.

The caches hidden in the lorry total around £90,000 all together.

Hij, who was driving the vehicle, stated that the cash belonged to Ionesi, who was travelling as his passenger.

Both were en route to their native Romania.

A total of £90,000 was found. Photo: NCA
A total of £90,000 was found. Photo: NCA

They were charged under the Proceeds of Crime Act by the National Crime Agency and have been remanded in custody.

They will appear at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday June 8.

Martin Grace, NCA Dover branch commander, said: “Despite the restrictions we are still under in lockdown, working with law enforcement partners both in the UK and abroad we’ve been able to continue our work and help make significant seizures.

“We remain determined in our fight against serious and organised crime.”

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover

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