Specialist HMRC Tax Investigation Solicitors Bark & Co Law Firm Retained in £59M Money Laundering Case, known as Operation Salerno
Bark & Co Expert Defence Lawyers are acting for JS in relation to an HMRC investigation into a highly sophisticated money laundering enterprise said to have processed more than £59m in cash over a 10-month period between July 2017 and May 2018.
The alleged enterprise included a three-stage business model where criminal gangs around the UK would launder their criminal gains. One of its largest ‘customers’ was a Merseyside drugs ring involved in the large-scale supply of cocaine that generated huge cash profits that needed to be integrated into the UK banking system. The enterprise operated within scrap metal industry through a company called Monarch Trade Solutions, which operated from leased office space in the Citibank building in Canary Wharf. The operation is said to have orchestrated the collection and storage of large quantities of cash, used the cash to purchase metal off the black market, and resold it to scrap metal dealers, with the proceeds then being subject to multiple transfers on false invoices and ending up overseas.
The office in Canary Wharf was subject to a listening probe that captured various conversations concerning the enterprise. There is also documentary evidence in the form of spread sheets, fake invoices and other data extracted from office computers, mobile phone/Encrochat evidence, and CCTV data. JS’ alleged role is as the primary London cash courier.
More HMRC Tax Investigation Cases
