No request to freeze offshore assets from Spain says Keith Arnold

The Reuters news agency is reporting that police in Spain are dismantling a money-laundering ring and has frozen bank accounts in a number of countries including Belize. Thirteen suspected gang members belonging to a Ukrainian criminal organisation are believed to have laundered some one hundred million Euros, or one hundred and sixty-three million U.S. dollars from extortion, bribery, and contract killings in Eastern Europe. The gang allegedly channelled its funds into hotel and property investments from Barcelona down the Mediterranean region of Almeria, sending the profits into offshore accounts in tax havens. The report says authorities froze bank accounts in Spain, the Dutch Antilles, the Bahamas, Virgin Islands, and Belize. However, head of the Financial Intelligence Unit, Keith Arnold tells News Five that there has been no request by any international agency, either Spanish or otherwise, to freeze any bank accounts held in Belize and that no outside authorities would be able to do so without going through the proper channels. He did not dismiss the possibility that such a request may come, but says he has not seen anything so far.