Fast-track forfeiture - Account Freezing Orders activated

Anna Gaudoin (+ 44 (0)207872 1016, anna.gaudoin@wilmerhale.com)is an associate in WilmerHale’s UK White Collar Defence & Investigationspractice.

On 7 February 2019,the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) announced that it had, for the first time,successfully used account freezing orders (AFOs) to forfeit over UK£400,000from three UK bank accounts suspected of harbouring dirty money. Three weekslater, the National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) indicated its intention to useAFOs to apply to freeze a further 95 accounts suspected of being funded bylaundered money. Anna Gaudoin of WilmerHaleexamines law enforcement’s new weapon of choice.