Model to be extradited to North over ‘€180k in cash’

A MALE model who was allegedly caught at a Belfast airport with €180,000 in his hand luggage is to be extradited at a later date to the North, where he is wanted over the alleged laundering of cash from the proceeds of crime.

Delivering his judgment yesterday at the High Court, Judge Paul Burns said Mark Adams, pictured, had failed to adduce any cogent evidence to support the proposition that there was any real risk his fundamental rights would be breached if he was surrendered to authorities in the North.

Mr Adams, 40, of Castleheath, Malahide, Co. Dublin, is alleged to have been in possession of €180,000 in two brown envelopes when stopped at Belfast International Airport while attempting to get a flight to Spain on May 9, 2018.

Northern Irish authorities are seeking his extradition on charges that he concealed the money in his hand luggage, and tried to remove it from Northern Ireland on that date, knowing or suspecting the money to be the proceeds of crime. He is also facing prosecution for allegedly entering into an arrangement, namely the attempted removal of criminal property from Northern Ireland, and knowing or suspecting this arrangement would facilitate the retention, use or control of such criminal property, by persons unknown, between May 13, 2013 and May 10, 2018.

The offences each carry a maximum penalty of up to 14 years in prison. The respondent had allegedly booked 497 international flights into or out of the UK between May 14, 2014 and May 9, 2018. It is also alleged that on 64 occasions, the outward and return flights were within a matter of hours.

Mr Adams has been returned for trial before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on June 29, 2021, in respect of separate alleged money-laundering offences.

Yesterday, Judge Burns said in light of the domestic offences against Mr Adams, he was postponing his surrender to the UK until a later date and remanded him in custody until July 19, 2021.