£20,000 forfeited after man and woman stopped at Port of Dover

Cash totalling £20,280 has been forfeited by a man and woman who were unable to prove it had been lawfully earned.

Nicolae Mustafa, 38, and Sabina Curt, 35, from Salisbury in Wiltshire, were stopped whilst attempting to exit the UK via the Port of Dover on Thursday 3 November 2022.

The money in their possession was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act after officers interviewed them about their finances and expressed doubts as to where the cash had come from.

An investigation was carried out by financial experts from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, who made an application for the money to be forfeited on the grounds it was likely to have been obtained through unlawful conduct.

The application was granted following a hearing at Medway Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 31 January 2024.

Highly skilled

Detective Inspector David Godfrey of the Economic Crime Unit said:

‘Whilst the individuals involved in this case were never arrested or charged with any criminal offences, they were unable to persuade the court that the £20,280 cash in their possession had been earned through legitimate and lawful means. ‘The Proceeds of Crime Act allows officers to seize cash and goods when they are not satisfied with the evidence provided, pending further enquiries by our highly-skilled team of financial investigators. Such action allows us to prevent people making a living from illegal activity and potentially helping to fund other types of serious and organised criminality.’