A woman from Northern Ireland accused of having links to paramilitary activities and cigarette smuggling has been ordered to explain how she bought properties worth £3.2 million.
In the latest Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) secured by the National Crime Agency (NCA), the woman, who lives in London, must prove that she paid for four homes in the English capital and two in Northern Ireland with legitimate funds.
Details of the UWO, which was obtained at the High Court on July 24, can now be revealed after the order was served yesterday afternoon.
Interim freezing orders have also been granted which means that these properties cannot be sold, transferred or dissipated while the investigation continues.
UWOs were brought in as part of powers dubbed the McMafia laws, after the BBC TV drama series and a factual book that inspired it.
The orders, which came into force at the beginning of 2018, allow investigators to look into the source of wealth of public figures at risk of bribery, or those suspected of links to serious organised crime.
Andy Lewis, head of asset denial at the NCA, said: "This is the fourth case in which we have obtained a UWO. Our investigations are complex and involve careful consideration before we make an application before the court.
"We do not investigate illicit finance based on monetary value alone. This latest order shows that we will act against those who we believe are causing the most harm to our communities."
Sarah Pritchard, Director of the National Economic Crime Centre, added: "We are determined to identify and prioritise the cases which have the biggest impact on tackling serious and organised economic crime."
She added: "We will use all the powers available to us to target those we suspect are trying to launder money and will explore every opportunity to deny assets linked to illicit finance."
