During the lockdown, a married couple attempted to transport more than £200,000 out of the UK, but they got off easy.
In May 2020, Ardian Sharra, 51, and Valbona Laloshi, 41, had their Mercedes pulled over at the Folkestone, Kent, Channel Tunnel port.
The Tring, Hertfordshire, natives claimed to be traveling with their three kids to see family in Brescia, Italy.
They stated that they had £5,000 in the car, which they said was for local dental care.
But Border Force officers found another wad of £14,000 in Laloshi’s handbag and more than £200,000 hidden in a rucksack and suitcase in the boot.
National Crime Agency investigators searched the couple’s home and found documents detailing dozens of large cash deposits into their bank accounts.
They had paid more than £110,000 into their accounts in 2019 – more than five times their legitimately declared income for the year.
Sharra had bought the Mercedes for £11,000 in cash just two months before.
The couple admitted money laundering offences mid-way through their trial at Canterbury Crown Court.
Sharra was given an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of unpaid work, while Laloshi got a 12-month community order and 50 hours of unpaid work.
The cash will now be forfeited as proceeds of crime.
NCA Branch Commander Mark Howes said: ‘This couple lied about the cash from the moment they were caught, initially telling officers it was for dental work in Italy, then claiming it was for a property purchase.
‘Our investigation showed they were using their various bank accounts to make criminal cash appear legitimate.
‘The NCA is determined to target criminal cash flows and prevent organised crime gangs benefiting from their illicit profits.’