U.K. Confiscates $35 Million in Assets Linked to Singapore’s Record Money Laundering Case

The United Kingdom has seized assets worth more than 27 million pounds, equivalent to around $35.4 million, from a Chinese businessman tied to Singapore’s largest money laundering scandal. The action, led by the U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA), marks one of the most high-profile international enforcement moves connected to the sprawling investigation that began in 2023.

On Wednesday, the U.K. High Court approved a settlement order authorizing the confiscation of nine luxury London apartments and several rare dinosaur fossils belonging to the suspect, identified as Su Binghai. According to the NCA, the combined value of the properties and collectibles exceeded 27 million pounds — with the real estate holdings worth approximately 15 million and the fossils valued at 12.4 million.

Authorities described Su as a key figure in a transnational network suspected of laundering billions of dollars through investments in property, high-end assets, and digital currencies. The NCA said the assets represented “the proceeds of extensive criminal conduct” that stretched across multiple jurisdictions. Investigators coordinated closely with law enforcement in Singapore, tracing the money flows through complex offshore structures and front companies.

Su reportedly fled Singapore in August 2023, shortly after local police carried out one of the largest anti–money laundering raids in the city-state’s history. The operation led to the arrest of ten foreign nationals, the freezing of more than $2 billion in assets, and the uncovering of links to illegal gambling and unregulated online finance. Singapore’s authorities had issued an international alert for Su after he disappeared from the country just days before the crackdown.

The U.K. seizure represents a significant milestone in the broader investigation, underscoring the level of cross-border cooperation between law enforcement agencies. The NCA said in a statement that the case highlighted the importance of global efforts to combat financial crime and recover illicit wealth hidden in international property markets. “These confiscations demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the U.K. cannot be used as a haven for criminal proceeds,” an agency spokesperson said.

Legal experts noted that the inclusion of rare fossils among the seized assets was highly unusual, reflecting how criminals increasingly diversify their holdings into unique and difficult-to-trace items. The fossils, considered museum-quality specimens, were reportedly purchased through private dealers in Europe. They will now be subject to valuation and potential repatriation or auction under court supervision.

Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs has welcomed the development, describing it as an encouraging example of international collaboration. Analysts said the latest move also aligns with Singapore’s broader effort to strengthen financial transparency and enforcement following the scandal, which raised questions about due diligence in its banking and property sectors.

For British authorities, the case reinforces growing concerns over foreign capital inflows into London’s luxury real estate market. The NCA has stepped up scrutiny of overseas funds used to purchase high-value assets in recent years, aiming to curb illicit financial activity.

As proceedings conclude, the seized properties and fossils will remain under the control of the U.K. government. The case continues to serve as a reminder of how global finance, art, and collectibles can intersect in sophisticated criminal schemes and how tighter international oversight is reshaping the landscape of financial enforcement.