Man jailed after suitcases containing £800,000 in cash found at Glasgow airport

Lukas Pokorny, from the Czech Republic, checked in three suitcases for a flight to Dubai on 8 November last year.

The day before, the 42-year-old arrived at Edinburgh Airport from Prague carrying one small bag before making his way to Glasgow where he received three more suitcases from a man at the city’s Mariott Hotel.

In total, £867,030 was found in the suitcases. Picture: Crown Office

He was stopped as part of an intelligence-led investigation into the export of cash from the UK to Dubai and the suitcases were found to be full of cash.

In total, £867,030 was found in the suitcases and seized immediately.

Pokorny pled guilty under Proceeds of Crime Act legislation at the High Court in Glasgow on 1 February this year.

On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 12 months and a confiscation order was granted for £867,520, 360 euros and 700 koruna. These figures include the money in the suitcase and on his person.

Procurator fiscal for specialist casework, Jennifer Harrower said: "I hope this will send a message to others involved in this kind of criminal behaviour. We will not stop at prosecution, but use all the powers at our disposal to target those who seek to profit from crime.

"The Crown will continue working with partners in the Organised Crime Partnership and other agencies to ensure these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted.

“This recovered money will be added to funds already gathered from Proceeds of Crime and will be re-invested in Scottish communities through the CashBack for Communities programme.”

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