Apr.16, 2010

As a result of a request for assistance from the UK Authorities, the Financial Crime Unit of the RGP provided evidence that enabled the confiscation of over £69,000. held in accounts in Gibraltar against Ellen George. The freezing order for the assets were issued by the courts in 2005, after the Attorney General’s Chambers had applied for a restraint order for the monies.

Ms George is the partner of Richard Neil Davidson, Managing Director of Crompton Marine, who was arrested in Spain in relation to charges of drug trafficking, tax evasion and money laundering.

Crompton Marine built high speed Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBS) capable of speeds in excess of 60 knots, which the prosecution claimed were built for only one purpose – drug trafficking, with the core of the business in the Costa Del Sol.

The RIBS were built in the UK and then shipped to Southern Spain, Morocco and other North African countries. Davidson and his partner were accused of dealing with drug barons who would secretly pay them in cash, which they would then deposit in numerous accounts all over the world, including Gibraltar. For this purpose they had set up various companies behind which to hide their assets. When Ms George was arrested in Suffolk, over £1.2m was found in cash in holdalls and cupboards. A further 1m Euros in cash was found in their home in Spain.

At the time of his arrest in Spain on a European Arrest Warrant, Richard Davidson was granted bail by the Spanish courts, and promptly absconded, remaining still at large. However his partner was charged and prosecuted in the UK and pleaded guilty to seven counts relating to money laundering and the possession of the proceeds of crime, namely the £1.2m cash found in their home.

Now a further hearing took place which secured a confiscation of a further £1,950,000 of assets, including the cash held in an account in Gibraltar, against Ms George, to add to the assets already confiscated.