Jersey Police helps bust multi-billion Russian money laundering network

Jersey Police have assisted the National Crime Agency in taking down part of a multi-billion dollar Russian money laundering network.

The joint NCA-led operation - dubbed Operation Destabilise - has resulted in 84 arrests and disrupted global criminal networks with links to drugs trafficking, ransomware attacks and espionage.

Jersey Police intercepted £60,000 worth of Jersey bank notes being laundered in October 2021, with investigators finding evidence that three Uzbekistan nationals were involved in multiple crimes in the UK, including illegal subletting of properties for drug and human trafficking and prostitution.

Evidence was discovered from seized mobile phones, documentation, receipts and lists.

The seized mobile phones held identities of Uzbekistanis, Hungarians, Latvians and Romanians, who it is assumed illegally entered the UK and were living in properties subject to illegal subletting.

Financial crimes officer Faith Shalomon, from Jersey's Joint Financial Crimes Unit, says money laundering is at the heart of organised crime.

"It underpins and enables most forms of organised crimes.

" States of Jersey Police have a commitment to combat financial crime and money laundering and we investigate all financial crime robustly."

Eshonkulov, Umurzokov, and Bataa were arrested and charged with 22 money laundering counts, leading to a combined sentence of 10 years in prison handed down by Jersey's Royal Court in 2022.

The trio had large amounts of money moving in and out of their UK bank accounts, one of which had £4.31 million passing through within 10 months between 2021 and 2022.

Intelligence shared by Jersey with the NCA helped it 'connects the dots' and uncover the broader network.

Faith Shalomon says the force's involvement in Operation Destabilise demonstrates the effectiveness of Jersey's joint work with national and international agencies.

"We were really pleased to see that our investigative work served the NCA with the uncovering of one of their biggest organised crime networks.

"We are grateful for the vigilance of the local businesses and the community, whose cooperation was instrumental in achieving this outcome."

Will Lyne, Head of Cyber Intelligence, National Crime Agency, said:

"Operation Destabilise has exposed billion-dollar Russian money laundering networks supporting a range of criminal activity in Europe, the Middle East, Russia and South America.   

"By enabling Russian cyber criminality and violent criminal gangs dealing in drugs and firearms, the impact and harm of these networks is felt directly in communities in the UK and across the West.   

"Alongside our policing partners, we have disrupted these networks at every level. As well as exposing those pulling the strings at the very top, we have seized over £20 million in cash and cryptocurrency and taken out the key cash couriers supporting this illicit service in the UK. 

 "Jersey Police have been a key partner in that effort and their investigation disrupted criminals working with TGR to launder millions in illicit cash through UK businesses.”

Jersey's Police Chief Robin Smith described the NCA as 'an agency to be reckoned with:

"The number of charges and the combined sentences should act as the strongest deterrent to ‘would be’ criminal networks seeking to launder money in our Island. They have learned there is a high level of vigilance combined with high levels of technical sophistication and experienced investigators.

It also illustrates how SOJP works closely with our highly professional colleagues at the NCA – they are an agency to be reckoned with.”