A supermarket worker is facing jail after being stopped at Heathrow with £1 million in his luggage.
Mazen Al Shaar, 48, was about to fly from Terminal 3 to Beirut, Lebanon when he was intercepted by Border Force officers.
Al Shaar, of Marsworth Close, Middlesex, claimed said he only had £500 on him and that he was leaving the UK to visit family.
But the huge cash haul was discovered in two of his three suitcases on Saturday, March 15 this year.
At Isleworth Crown Court, Al Shaar - who worked at Damas Gate, a wholesaler in Shepherd’s Bush - admitted one count of money laundering and will be sentenced at a later date.
Peter Jones, National Crime Agency operations manager, said: “Cash like this is the lifeblood of organised crime groups.
“So many of the serious and organised crime threats facing the UK are driven by offenders’ greed, their thirst for money.
“The detection and conviction of Al Shaar have punched a hole in the crime group’s finances and very importantly, taken a trusted money launder out of use.”
A Home Office spokesman added: “This seizure highlights Border Force’s dedicated efforts to protect our borders and keep the public safe.
“Our officers are trained to spot suspicious behaviour and identify attempts to move illicit cash and other prohibited items across our borders.
“We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners, including the NCA to disrupt criminal networks.”
