The National Crime Agency has secured two unexplained wealth orders to help it investigate assets totalling £22 million that are believed to be owned ultimately by a politically exposed person or PEP. These are the first such orders to be granted and represent the first time when the Criminal Finances Act will be tested in court.

The orders relate to two properties, one in London and one in the South East of England. In addition to them, the courts have imposed interim freezing orders on the NCA's targets, stopping the assets from being sold, transferred or dissipated for a certain time.

Donald Toon, the director for economic crime at the NCA, is hoping that unexplained wealth orders - a new phenomenon in the AML world - can reduce the appeal of the UK as a destination for illicit income. As at other times, the NCA is expressing a desire to tackle money laundering through prime real estate in London and elsewhere in the UK.