Police investigators in the UK have launched an inquiry into the involvement of 19 British shell companies in a US$20 billion money-laundering operation.

The investigation comes after OCCRP and the Independentnewspaper exposed the multi-billion dollar scam involving the creation of front companies to carry out fake business deals between themselves and thus make dirty money appear “clean”. The aim was to channel the proceeds of organized crime in Russia into the EU banking system, using courts in Moldova to legitimize the funds.

The Independent reports that officers from the British National Crime Agency returned last week from Moldova, where they have been working with police on the complex investigation. They will assist in identifying the path of money through the money laundering system and probe British companies believed to have unwittingly received payments from the firms involved in the scam.

reportingproject.net