News

Britain's settlement with a couple from Azerbaijan's ruling elite who used a now-notorious money-laundering network to move almost £14 million into the U.K. has brought the efficacy and continued use of stronger asset-seizure powers introduced four years ago into question. On July 5, Suleyman Javadov and his wife Izzat Khanimeed Javadova agreed to surrender £4 million to the U.K. government after admitting the funds had entered Britain unlawfully through a web of offshore entities and bank accounts that has since been dubbed the "Azerbaijani Laundromat." The settlement ended civil asset-forfeiture proceedings brought by the U.K. National Crime Agency, which began...