McMafia order served on Northern Irish woman accused of paramilitary links

By Margaret Davis, PA Crime Correspondent

A Northern Irish woman accused of having links to paramilitary activities and cigarette smuggling has been ordered to explain how she paid for properties worth £3.2 million.

In the latest Unexplained Wealth Order (UWO) secured by the National Crime Agency (NCA), the woman has been told she must prove that she paid for four properties in London and two in Northern Ireland with legitimate funds.

The order was granted at the High Court on July 24 and served on Tuesday.

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."

Unexplained Wealth Orders 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.

Sarah Pritchard, director of the National Economic Crime Centre, said: "We are determined to identify and prioritise the cases which have the biggest impact on tackling serious and organised economic crime.

"Criminally obtained assets undermine the integrity of the UK's economy and institutions.

"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."