A wealthy Russian businessman has been arrested at his multi-million pound residence in London on suspicion of money laundering, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has announced.
The unnamed 58-year-old was among three men arrested on December 1 by officers from the NCA.
In addition to money laundering, he was also arrested for conspiracy to defraud the Home Office and conspiracy to commit perjury.
A 35-year-old man, employed at the premises, was arrested nearby on suspicion of money laundering and obstruction of an NCA Officer 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 for offences including money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.
More than 50 officers were involved in the operation at the businessman’s London property.
A number of digital devices and a significant quantity of cash was recovered following extensive searches by NCA investigators.
All three individuals were interviewed by the NCA and have since 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.”
This operation is the latest in a series of interventions by the NCA, which works to disrupt the activities of corrupt international business figures and their enablers, British media reports.
Pursuant to Ukrainian media, arrested Russian businessman is Mikhail Fridman, Ukrainian-born, Russian–Israeli businessman, billionaire, and oligarch, one of the co-founders of Alfa-Group.
