Jonah Anderson

The National Crime Agency (NCA) announced yesterday that it had served an unexplained wealth order on a Northern Ireland woman believed to be associated with criminals involved in paramilitary activity and cigarette smuggling.

The order is part of the NCA investigation into properties owned by the woman, who now lives in London. Four of the properties are located in the capital and two are in Northern Ireland.

The case is the fourth in which the NCA has obtained an unexplained wealth order, and the second one against an individual with alleged ties to serious organised criminals.

Jonah Anderson, partner at global law firm White & Case, said the orders are likely to be used in connection with more paramilitary-related investigations in Northern Ireland, where he is originally from.

Mr Anderson said: “Since the NCA’s presence in Belfast from 2015, it has worked closely with the HMRC and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Two years ago it set up the Paramilitary Crime Taskforce, a taskforce dedicated to tackling paramilitary related activities which has since led to civil recovery action in Northern Ireland.

“As the unexplained wealth order serves as an investigative order in a civil recovery investigation, I expect it will be used more frequently, especially in relation to paramilitary related matters in Northern Ireland – whereas in England, a politically exposed person is likely to be the practical focus of the UWO regime, given current anti-money laundering law and regulation.”