‘McMafia’ laws used to catch Putin cronies

DIRTY money linked to Putin’s cronies is at the centre of an unprecedented crackdown by British authorities using ‘McMafia’ laws.

Investigators are dealing with up to 100 cases and could potentially seize cash, property and other assets from wealthy individuals.

They have already frozen more than £700million as they target people so rich they are harbouring ‘unspendable’ amounts of cash. And they are preparing five new Unexplained Wealth Orders, cutting-edge legal moves dubbed ‘McMafia laws’ after the BBC TV drama, which force targets to explain their riches.

Cases of money laundering, fraud and corruption – including one involving Russian assets – are being considered by prosecutors.

Officials said Russian wealth forms a ‘significant’ part of their work to target international public figures who abused their positions to benefit themselves.

Individuals linked to corrupt regimes across Central Asia, the Caribbean and Africa are also under scrutiny. Donald Toon, of the National Crime Agency (NCA), said a team of more than 50 experts were targeting ‘illicit finances linked to corrupt elites’.

Stressing that ‘it’s not a crime to be Russian, it’s not a crime to be rich’, he added that proving money was obtained illegally can be extremely difficult.

His colleagues face complex High Court challenges that attempt to block their work. In one case a suspect attempted to sue the NCA for £250million, more than half its annual budget.

Losing could have bankrupted the agency.

Mr Toon said: ‘Generally we’re talking about people who have either been in political or other public office... or the very top of private sector or nationalised industry, and who have been able to abuse their position for personal gain.’