A wealthy Russian businessman has been arrested in a major operation by the UK's National Crime Agency.
The 58-year-old was arrested on at his multi-million-pound residence in London by officers from the NCA’s new Combatting Kleptocracy Cell.
He was detained on suspicion of offences including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Home Office and conspiracy to commit perjury.
Authorities were seen leaving the address with a bag containing thousands of pounds in cash
Andrew Matthews
A 35-year-old man, employed at the premises, was arrested nearby on suspicion of money laundering and obstruction of an NCA Officer.
Authorities said he was seen leaving the address with a bag containing thousands of pounds in cash.
A third man, 39, the former boyfriend of the businessman’s current partner, was also arrested at his home in Pimlico.
He was detained for offences including money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.
More than 50 officers were involved in the operation at the businessman’s London property.
The NCA said a number of digital devices and a significant quantity of cash was recovered following extensive searches by Crime Agency investigators.
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 operation is the latest in a series of interventions by the new NCA unit, which the Agency said was designed to "disrupt the activities of corrupt international business figures and their enablers.'
The NCA said the unit had already secured nearly 100 disruptions of "Putin-linked elites and their enablers."
They include a number of Account Freezing Orders relating to individuals who are closely linked to sanctioned Russians.
The National Crime Agency said its new unit had also investigated and taken action against a number of elites who impact directly on the UK.
The action included targeting "less conventional routes" used to disguise movements of significant wealth, such as high value asset sales via auction houses.
Internationally, the NCA has assisted in the freezing of numerous properties, eight yachts and four aircraft.
The Russian Embassy in the United Kingdom has demanded the British authorities notify the diplomats of the reasons and circumstances of the detention of the Russian businessman in London.