Millionaire Russian businessman, 58, arrested at London mansion by National Crime Agency unit for ‘money laundering’
A MILLIONAIRE Russian businessman has been arrested at his luxury London mansion on suspicion of money laundering.
The 58-year-old man is also accused of conspiracy to defraud the Home office and conspiracy to commit perjury.
More than 50 officers swooped in on the businessman’s London home as he was snared by the National Crime Agency.
A 35-year-old man, who is employed at the multi-million pound London residence, was also arrested nearby after he was seen leaving the address with a bag found to contain thousands of pounds in cash.
A third man, aged 39, who is the former boyfriend of the businessman’s current partner, was arrested at his home in Pimlico, London, for offences including money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.
The NCA said a number of digital devices and a significant quantity of cash was recovered following extensive searches by investigators.
All three individuals were interviewed by the NCA, and have been released on bail.
Graeme Biggar, Director General of the NCA, said: “The NCA’s Combatting Kleptocracy Cell, only established this year, is having significant success investigating potential criminal activity by oligarchs, the professional service providers that support and enable them and those linked to the Russian regime.
“We will continue to use all the powers and tactics available to us to disrupt this threat.”
The NCA said their operation was the latest in a string of busts in their work to disrupt the activities of corrupt international business figures and their enablers.
To date, the NCA says it has secured nearly 100 “disruptions” – actions that demonstrably remove or reduce a criminal threat – against Putin-linked elites and their enablers.
The authority added that their work has assisted in freezing accounts held by individuals who are closely linked to sanctioned Russians.
The NCA said their investigations have targeted numerous properties, eight yachts and four aircraft.