Operation Churchill
This operation is an example of the cradle to grave process promoted at the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team which has a pro-active money laundering investigation team as well as a confiscation capability. The team has recently being enhanced by the addition of the Enforcement Unit of HM Court Services in January 2008.
Operation Churchill presented geographical issues for local forces which were resolved by the referral the NE RART; the original complainant in lived in Surrey; the initial deception occurred in Lancashire but the suspects were primarily based in West Yorkshire.
A money laundering investigation commenced which resulted in four successful trials held between November 2006 and January 2008 before His Honour Judge Spencer at Leeds and Bradford Crown Courts. All but three of the twelve defendants elected trial and were all found guilty by the respective juries and were sentenced to a total of 38 years imprisonment.
To date confiscation orders to the value of £924,299 have been made; £711,000 resulting from 2 orders made at a hearing in June 2008. There are still four confiscation investigations which have to be finalised.
Our new partners, the North East Regional Confiscation Unit have enforced £99,535 to date, the two larger orders have not reached the time to pay deadline.