A LEEDS woman has been charged with money laundering - and could face up to 14 years in prison if convicted - after almost £2 million in cash was seized by Border Force officers.

Tara Hanlon, 30, was stopped at Heathrow Aiport's Terminal 2 on 3 October, where she was attempting to board a flight to Dubai.

Officers searched five suitcases and found £1.9 million in cash, which is the largest such detection at the border so far this year.

Hanlon was arrested, along with a 28-year-old woman from the Doncaster area, and the investigation was referred to the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Chris Philp, Minister for Immigration Compliance and the Courts, said: "This is the largest individual cash seizure at the border so far in 2020 and I am delighted with the efforts of Border Force officers.

"Preventing the export of undeclared cash from the UK is a vital step in clamping down on organised criminal gangs."

Miss Hanlon, of Pelham Court, Leeds, was later charged with money laundering and appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Monday, 5 October where she was remanded in custody until her next appearance at Isleworth Crown Court, on 5 November.

The other woman who was arrested has been released under investigation.