SMASH & NAB

A CRACKDOWN on a multibillion pound Russian money laundering operation with tentacles in every part of the UK was led by the National Crime Agency.

- NICK SOMMERLAD

The force said an international "laundromat" stretched "from McMafia, through to Narcos, through to Le Carre" as drugs gangs, cyber criminals and spies worked together.

The syndicate, led by Ekaterina Zhdanova and Russianborn Ukrainian George Rossi, swapped cash from British street gangs for cyber-currency held by Russian hackers.

Socialite Zhdanova was born in Siberia and built a career in financial services. She graced the covers of multiple business magazines and was snapped on the ski slopes.

She and Rossi are thought to have made many millions in commission from laundering money around the world, charging about three per cent for the service. British criminals used the crypto to buy more drugs from South American cartels as well as weapons, fuelling more crime on our streets.

Their dirty cash was laundered through businesses or smuggled out of the country by couriers.