To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps is taking to increase the effectiveness of the investigations of the National Crime Agency’s Combating Kleptocracy Cell.

The Combatting Kleptocracy Cell (CKC) was established following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The CKC builds on the NCA’s existing expertise and uses all available capabilities to crack down on sanctions evasion and high-end money laundering.

To date, the CKC has secured a number of Freezing Orders (AFOs) over accounts held by individuals who are closely linked to sanctioned Russians, and an array of other disruptions against a range of Russian elites and their enablers. The CKC’s work has assisted in the freezing of numerous properties, eight yachts and four aircraft across the globe, and it continues to work in concert with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) in HMT to ensure that other assets in the UK are frozen, as well as with global partners to target illicit wealth held abroad.

The CKC forms an integral part of the wider government response to Russia-linked illicit finance and the Home Office will continue to support the NCA by providing additional funding for the CKC this financial year