Woman who spent £16m in Harrods loses appeal against first ‘McMafia’ wealth order February 5, 2020 A woman who spent £16m at Harrods in a decade has lost a legal challenge against the UK’s first Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO). Zamira Hajiyeva, the wife of Azerbijani banker Jahangir Hajiyev, had been attempting to overturn a UWO obtained by the National Crime Agency in 2018 against a property in Knightsbridge. Read more: Woman [...]
The cannabis conundrum risks causing investors to be accused of money laundering November 27, 2019 The overseas legalised cannabis industry is growing fast — estimates suggest that the US cannabis industry will be worth over $75bn by 2030. Investment firms in the UK are keen to take full advantage of this growing market, but have found unexpected hurdles in their way. For UK-based investors, investing in this industry carries the [...]
Pakistani property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain agrees £190m settlement with UK authorities December 3, 2019 Pakistani property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain has agreed to hand over £190m to UK authorities, following allegations that the funds could have been proceeds of crime. The National Crime Agency said today it had reached a settlement with Hussian, who owns development company Bahria Town – one of the largest private sector employers in Pakistan [...]
Deep in the weeds: How to solve the legal problem of investing in cannabis January 20, 2020 A growing controversy exists which is being discussed with increased frequency by commentators concerning the restrictions on UK firms that wish to invest in the overseas cannabis industry. The controversy arises from the uncertainty regarding the legality of investing in a foreign company, based somewhere that cannabis is legal. In the UK, cannabis and synthetic [...]
Ten arrested in London over £15m money laundering plot November 20, 2019 Ten suspected members of an organised crime group were arrested in London today on suspicion of flying roughly £15.5m out of the UK to Dubai hidden in suitcases. National Crime Agency (NCA) officers, who arrested the suspects in a series of raids across the capital this morning, said they believed the group also tried to [...]
NCA investigates Arron Banks and Leave.EU over alleged referendum offences November 1, 2018 The National Crime Agency is investigating Arron Banks and the Leave.EU campaign for alleged electoral law offences during the 2016 EU referendum. The Electoral Commission referred both Banks and another senior campaigner, Elizabeth Bilney, to the NCA. “Our investigation relates to suspected electoral law offences covered by that referral, as well as any associated offences,” [...]
National Crime Agency secures fourth unexplained wealth order against Northern Irish woman with suspected paramilitary links July 31, 2019 The National Crime Agency (NCA) today said it had secured the fourth unexplained wealth order (UWO) against a Northern Irish woman with suspected paramilitary and organised crime links. The NCA said it suspected the woman is associated with criminals involved in paramilitary activity and cigarette smuggling. Read more: The UK’s newest weapon in the war [...]
Criminals exploit technology so why can’t law enforcement? March 31, 2020 According to Helena Wood at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the UK has been “sleepwalking” through the growth of economic crime, to a point where it is a systemic national security risk. But there is technology to take the fight to criminals. Fraud accounts for one in three of all allegations of crime and [...]
Criminals are using COVID-19 to scam the public – don’t become a victim April 1, 2020 Law enforcement, government and private sectors partners are working together to encourage members of the public to be more vigilant against fraud, particularly about sharing their financial and personal information, as criminals seek to capitalise on the Covid-19 pandemic. Criminals are experts at impersonating people, organisations and the police. They spend hours researching you for [...]
City Moves for 18 July – who’s switching jobs at Foundry, Callsign and Saga? July 18, 2019 Today’s City Moves includes Foundry, Callsign and Saga. Foundry Foundry, which develops creative software for the digital design, media and entertainment industries, has appointed Jody Madden as chief executive officer (CEO). She joined Foundry in 2013 and has held positions as chief operating officer and most recently, chief customer officer and chief product officer. Prior [...]