NCA Arrests 84 in Russian Money Laundering Operation

NCA disrupts Russian money laundering networks. The U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA) has led an international operation, dubbed Operation Destabilise, resulting in the arrest of 84 suspects linked to two Russian-speaking money laundering networks, Smart and TGR. The operation seized £20 million ($25.4 million) in cash and cryptocurrency, targeting operations based in Moscow’s Federation Tower, a known hub for such activities. Concurrently, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned five individuals and four entities associated with TGR, which has been accused of facilitating sanctions evasion for Russian elites using digital assets. The NCA highlighted the networks’ role in connecting Russian elites with cybercriminals and drug gangs in the U.K., revealing a previously hidden link between these groups.