A businessman from the north of England with suspected links to serious organised criminals has been ordered to reveal the source of funds used to start and develop his £10m property empire.
An Unexplained Wealth Order was obtained at the High Court on Friday (12 July 2019) as part of the UK National Crime Agency investigation (NCA) into eight properties bought by the businessman in various locations across the country.
The NCA has secured a number of UWOs previously, but this is the first time one has been obtained solely based on an individual’s alleged involvement in serious organised crime. Officers believe the businessman’s property purchases were funded by a number of criminal associates involved in drug trafficking, armed robberies and supplying firearms.
Interim Freezing Orders have also been granted which means that the properties cannot be sold, transferred or dissipated while the investigation continues. The owner of the properties will now have to explain how they were financed.
