Man caught with nearly €150k in luggage jailed for 3 years

By Sonya McLean

A man who was caught with just under €150,000 in his luggage at Dublin Airport has been jailed for three years for money laundering.

Khed Alkhedr (45), who is originally from Syria but is living in Sweden, told gardaí that he had the cash in order to buy cars.

He said he had been given the money from “someone else”.

He said someone else had paid both for his flight and his overnight stay in Dublin.

Alkhedr was stopped while at a departure gate about to board a flight to Turkey, after a custom officer dog alerted the authorities to the fact that there was something in his luggage on the outbound luggage belt at the airport.

He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a charge of money laundering at Dublin Airport on May 10, 2025.

Sentencing Alkhedr today Judge Orla Crowe said that he had “concocted a story that was utterly incredible in relation to getting money to buy cars”.

She said he said he sold businesses in other countries and he avoided banks for tax purposes.

She accepted evidence that Alkhedr was at a lower level in the organisation and that he has been considered an enhanced prisoner since his remand in custody following his arrest last May.

“The excuses offered by him are simply incredible. He clearly was involved in the money laundering and he played an active role,” Judge Crowe said, before she acknowledged that Alkhedr only has minor offences for road traffic convictions in Sweden.

Judge Crowe acknowledged that he pleaded guilty but said he was caught red-handed.

She said a headline sentence of four years and six months was warranted before she imposed a term of three years, taking into account the mitigating features in the case.

The sentence was backdated to when Alkhedr went into custody first last May.

Kieran Kelly BL prosecuting told the court that a bag tag on the suitcase the custom officer dog drew attention to bore Alkhedr’s name and he was stopped at the departure gate.

A follow up search of his suitcase led to the discovery of €142,690 and £60 in eight separate bundles concealed in clothing.

Alkhedr told gardaí he had made a mistake and accepted he knew what he was doing was wrong.

He claimed that he sold two warehouses and previously sold some companies.

He said he did not use banks to avoid paying tax.

He claimed that he was going to buy cars with the cash.

Garrett McCormack SC, defending, submitted that his client pleaded guilty and took responsibility for the cash at an early stage.

He said he is a married man with children and are they are living in Sweden.

Mr McCormack said Alkhedr is getting on well in custody and submitted to the court that he co-operated with the garda investigation.

He plans to return to Sweden upon his ultimate release from custody.