UK intelligence exposes Russian money laundering scheme
The special services of the United Kingdom have uncovered a massive "money laundering" scheme used by the Russians. According to the Russian-language portal "Important Stories," this scheme was employed to finance foreign criminal groups and the activities of Russian spies.
One of the largest discoveries in such a case occurred recently in the United Kingdom. Investigators there, with intelligence support, managed to uncover an illegally operated "money laundering" scheme used by the Russians to bypass Western sanctions.
According to Russian-language media, billions of dollars passed through the program during its operation, facilitating the maintenance of Russian spies and funding criminal groups worldwide. This operation primarily relied on cryptocurrency exchanges in Moscow, London, and Dubai, among other locations.
Investments reportedly took place from late 2022 to the summer of 2023 through the companies Smart and TGR. According to the UK's National Crime Agency, such activities were "threatening the integrity of the economy and directly impacted the circumvention of sanctions by Russian propaganda media covering the United Kingdom.
"Money laundering networks" dismantled
For the first time, we have been able to map out a link between Russian elites, crypto-rich cyber criminals, and drugs gangs on the streets of the UK. The thread that tied them together – the combined force of Smart and TGR – was invisible until now, said Rob Jones, the Director-General of Operations of the NCA, as quoted by "Important Stories."
Aside from Russian clients, one of the entities funded by the Russian "money laundering networks" is believed to be the Irish drug gang, the Kinahan Cartel. Currently, 84 people have been arrested in this case, many of whom are already serving prison sentences.
