Yorkshire man accused of trying to smuggle almost £48,000 in cash off the Island

A man from South Yorkshire has been remanded in custody, accused of trying to smuggle almost £48,000 in cash off the Island.

Sam Kenneth Leigh of Brow Close in Barnsley appeared before magistrates at Douglas Courthouse.

The 31 year old faces one count of attempting to remove criminal property at the Sea Terminal in Douglas on September 25 but hasn’t yet entered a plea.

Prosecutor Roger Kane said police from Operation Strongbox spoke to Mr Leigh as he waited to get on the ferry in his car, and became suspicious after he contradicted himself.

A search found five bundles of cash worth £47,970 under the passenger seat – he told officers he didn’t know how the money got there.

A bail application was refused and he was remanded in custody until October 13.