A wealthy Russian businessman has been arrested at his luxurious residence in London by police investigating legal exercise by oligarchs.
The 58-year-old was held on suspicion of cash laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Home Office, and conspiracy to commit perjury.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) has not named the person, or two others, who had been additionally arrested.
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One man – a 35-year-old who is known to work on the multi-million-pound residence within the capital – was held after he was seen leaving the constructing with a bag containing hundreds of kilos in money.
He was arrested on suspicion of cash laundering and obstruction of an officer.
The third particular person – a 39-year-old man – was arrested at his residence in Pimlico in London, for offences together with cash laundering and conspiracy to defraud.
The NCA stated round 50 of its officers from the Combatting Kleptocracy Cell had been concerned within the operation on the businessman’s multi-million-pound property, the place a variety of digital gadgets and a considerable amount of money had been seized following a search.
Graeme Biggar, director basic of the NCA, stated: “The NCA’s Combatting Kleptocracy Cell, solely established this 12 months, is having vital success investigating potential legal exercise by oligarchs, the skilled service suppliers that help and allow them and people linked to the Russian regime.
“We will continue to use all the powers and tactics available to us to disrupt this threat.”
All three males who had been arrested have since been launched on bail.
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The NCA stated the operation was the most recent of its sort to be carried out as a part of its efforts to disrupt the actions of corrupt worldwide enterprise figures and their enablers.
The company claims it has secured nearly 100 disruptions – actions that take away or cut back a legal menace – towards Putin-linked elites and their enablers.
These embody a variety of Account Freezing Orders (AFOs) over accounts held by people who’re intently linked to sanctioned Russians.
“The cell has also investigated and taken discreet action against a significant number of elites who impact directly on the UK, as well as targeting less conventional routes used to disguise movements of significant wealth, such as high value asset sales via auction houses,” the NCA stated.
“Internationally, the NCA’s work has assisted in the freezing of numerous properties, eight yachts and four aircraft, and it continues to work in concert with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation to ensure that other assets in the UK are frozen, as well as with global partners to target illicit wealth held abroad.”
Source: information.sky.com”