£100k in cash confiscated from student at airport

A CHINESE student has had more than £100,000 confiscated from her, the Crown Office has revealed.

Weimei Zhong, 22, a student at Heriot-Watt University, was found with "very large sums" of euros and US dollars, including 500 euro notes, known to be used by "cash-mules", when she was stopped by UK Border Agency (UKBA) officials after arriving at Edinburgh Airport from China, via Amsterdam in April. She was unable to offer a "reasonable" explanation for the cash and the money was seized, the UKBA said.

In total, 119,725 euros (104,855) and $5550 (3413) was confiscated from her under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

She has not been arrested in connection with or convicted of an offence, the UKBA said.

Money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act is given to community projects by the Scottish Government.

Malcolm Bragg, Assistant Director of UKBA, said: "The forfeiture of these very large sums of money demonstrates the determination of UK Border Agency officers to detect cash couriers entering the UK.

"Other individuals attempting to bring substantial sums of cash into the country will be dealt with similarly."