Officers arrested a millionaire Russian businessman in his luxurious multi-million-pound London pad during an investigation into possible criminal activity among oligarchs.
The unnamed 58-year-old was detained by the National Crime Agency on Thursday on suspicion of a number of offences, including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Home Office and conspiracy to commit perjury.
Another male, aged 35, who works at the property, was also arrested after he was spotted leaving the building with a bag full of thousands of pounds in money.
READ MORE: King Charles and Camilla 'wearied' by Harry and Meghan's attacks ahead of Netflix doc
He was detained also on suspicion of money laundering and obstruction of an officer.
A third man, meanwhile, was arrested at his home in Pimlico for offences including money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.
The 39-year-old was also the ex-boyfriend of the businessman’s current partner.
More than 50 officers from the NCA's Combatting Kleptocracy Cell were involved in the operation at the businessman’s plush property, where a number of digital devices and a significant quantity of cash was seized following a search.
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.”
To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
All three of the men who were arrested have been released on bail.
The NCA said it is the latest operation carried out as part of its efforts to disrupt the activities of corrupt international business figures and their enablers.
Almost 100 "disruptions" - actions that remove or reduce a criminal threat - have been carried out against Putin-linked elites and their enablers, including account freezing orders (AFOs) over accounts held by people closely linked to sanctioned Russians, according to the NCA.
"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 said.
"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."
READ NEXT:
