Three million euro frozen in 2008

  • 2008-12-09
  • TBT staff in cooperation with BNS

RIGA- TheLatvian Office for Prevention of Laundering of Proceeds from Criminal Activity sofar this year has frozen a total of 2.2 million lats (3.13 mln euro) ofpotentially dirty money.

Diana Veidemane, the deputyhead of the Latvian anti-money laundering office, told BNS that 81 orders have been issued regarding freezing suspiciousfunds.

"By the beginning of Dec.2008, the anti-money laundering office has forwarded law enforcement agencies137 money laundering cases, including 15 major cases involving 10 to 81suspects. Large amounts of money -- between one million and 20 million lats areinvolved in 22 of the cases sent to the law enforcement authorities," saidVeidemane.

State officials areinvolved in 11 of the cases forwarded to the law enforcement agencies, and intwo cases criminal proceedings have already begun.

Citing information from theprosecutor's office, the anti-money laundering office said that about 5.5million lats of dirty money had been confiscated by the court ruling in 32 criminalproceedings this year.