Jail for Latvian money laundering gang

Hardijs Langsteins, 37, Maris Kursis, 30, Arvids Civkors, 30, and Aivars Dzagarjans, 38, were all convicted of agreeing to become involved in serious and organised crime by doing things which enabled money laundering and fraud to be committed.

Langsteins and Kursis were also made subject to Serious Crime Prevention Orders which impose significant and stringent restrictions on their activities for a period of five years once released from custody

For over four years illegally obtained money passed through bank accounts controlled by the group. Criminal money laundered through accounts the group controlled included money stolen by hacking and malware attacks.

The court heard that between June 2012 and December 2016 the group encouraged Latvian nationals to come to the UK with the intent of exploiting them. The group organised a supply of people in order to obtain control of a supply of bank accounts to be used for laundering money and fraud.

As well as imprisonment, the group will be subject to Proceeds of Crime action which will seek to confiscate any profits of criminal activity.

Procurator fiscal for specialist casework, Jennifer Harrower, said: “Money laundering is not a victimless crime and Hardijs Langsteins and his gang played an integral role in a complex, large scale operation which facilitated the criminal activity of others.

“I hope that these convictions and the sentence, including the Serious Crime Prevention Orders granted for Langsteins and Kursis, send a strong message to others involved in this kind of criminal behaviour and demonstrates the ability of police and prosecutors to investigate, prepare and prosecute serious and organised crime of this nature.

“The Crown will continue working with the police and other agencies to ensure that these crimes are detected and those responsible prosecuted using all measures at our disposal.”