Ben Cowdock
@bcowdock.bsky.social
Investigations for Transparency International UK. Money laundering, kleptocracy, financial transparency, professional enablers and some sanctions.
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
🆕 BLOG 🆕
Up to £10 billion could be laundered through UK property each year, according to the latest government risk assessment.
From opaque trusts to crypto schemes, criminals are finding new ways to hide dirty money.
Read more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/authori...
Up to £10 billion could be laundered through UK property each year, according to the latest government risk assessment.
From opaque trusts to crypto schemes, criminals are finding new ways to hide dirty money.
Read more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/authori...
Authorities sound alarm on new money laundering threats
The latest National Money Laundering Risk Assessment finds up to £10 billion in illicit flows through UK property each year
www.transparency.org.uk
July 30, 2025 at 2:45 PM
🆕 BLOG 🆕
Up to £10 billion could be laundered through UK property each year, according to the latest government risk assessment.
From opaque trusts to crypto schemes, criminals are finding new ways to hide dirty money.
Read more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/authori...
Up to £10 billion could be laundered through UK property each year, according to the latest government risk assessment.
From opaque trusts to crypto schemes, criminals are finding new ways to hide dirty money.
Read more ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/authori...
New investigation from @transparencyuk.bsky.social and @theguardian.com finds several Bangladeshis linked Hasina's regime - now under investigation by authorities there - appear to have either sold, transferred or refinanced UK property since the revolution began. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Bangladeshis linked to Hasina regime appear to have made UK property transactions in past year
Call for asset freezes after figures under investigation in Dhaka employed services of UK law firms and consultants
www.theguardian.com
July 21, 2025 at 7:24 AM
New investigation from @transparencyuk.bsky.social and @theguardian.com finds several Bangladeshis linked Hasina's regime - now under investigation by authorities there - appear to have either sold, transferred or refinanced UK property since the revolution began. www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
🗣️ "We urge UK law enforcement to continue their inquiries and to freeze all suspect assets without delay."
With the NCA freezing millions in assets from Bangladesh's former regime, @duncanhames.bsky.social urges UK authorities to freeze more suspect assets.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
With the NCA freezing millions in assets from Bangladesh's former regime, @duncanhames.bsky.social urges UK authorities to freeze more suspect assets.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
NCA freezes £90m of London property linked to former Bangladesh regime
Two men linked to Sheikh Hasina prevented from selling properties, including apartments in Grosvenor Square
www.theguardian.com
May 27, 2025 at 11:00 AM
🗣️ "We urge UK law enforcement to continue their inquiries and to freeze all suspect assets without delay."
With the NCA freezing millions in assets from Bangladesh's former regime, @duncanhames.bsky.social urges UK authorities to freeze more suspect assets.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
With the NCA freezing millions in assets from Bangladesh's former regime, @duncanhames.bsky.social urges UK authorities to freeze more suspect assets.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Guardian coverage here of new analysis by @transparencyuk.bsky.social on the use of trusts to hide the ownership of property. Our research found £2.5bn worth of real estate bought with suspicious wealth and held by trusts. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
At least £64bn of property in England and Wales hidden behind opaque trusts
Campaigners say secretive ownership structures are becoming the ‘go-to vehicle for kleptocrats’
www.theguardian.com
May 21, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Guardian coverage here of new analysis by @transparencyuk.bsky.social on the use of trusts to hide the ownership of property. Our research found £2.5bn worth of real estate bought with suspicious wealth and held by trusts. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/m...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
📝 BLOG
Is this the end for Adolf Tooth Fairy Hitler?
Companies House can now reject suspicious filings, but 65,000 companies are still breaking beneficial ownership rules.
Read our latest blog on the progress and gaps in UK company law reform. ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...
Is this the end for Adolf Tooth Fairy Hitler?
Companies House can now reject suspicious filings, but 65,000 companies are still breaking beneficial ownership rules.
Read our latest blog on the progress and gaps in UK company law reform. ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...
The slow evolution of Companies House reform
Despite promising changes, criminals can continue exploiting gaps in the UK's company registration system.
www.transparency.org.uk
April 8, 2025 at 8:51 AM
📝 BLOG
Is this the end for Adolf Tooth Fairy Hitler?
Companies House can now reject suspicious filings, but 65,000 companies are still breaking beneficial ownership rules.
Read our latest blog on the progress and gaps in UK company law reform. ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...
Is this the end for Adolf Tooth Fairy Hitler?
Companies House can now reject suspicious filings, but 65,000 companies are still breaking beneficial ownership rules.
Read our latest blog on the progress and gaps in UK company law reform. ⤵️
www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...
Great story highlighting the loopholes and oversight issues that make Scottish Limited Partnerships attractive to crooks. Featuring the "King of Fraud" and a company owner that is in fact, no longer alive. theferret.scot/muirhouse-sl...
Muirhouse, SLPs and the King of Fraud
How Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLPs) linked to global fraud, money laundering, and sanctioned individuals are hiding in plain sight, from Muirhouse flats to Tesco-adjacent offices.
theferret.scot
April 7, 2025 at 10:44 AM
Great story highlighting the loopholes and oversight issues that make Scottish Limited Partnerships attractive to crooks. Featuring the "King of Fraud" and a company owner that is in fact, no longer alive. theferret.scot/muirhouse-sl...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
I have a new piece out in Foreign Affairs on how #statecapture ruins economies and livelihoods...
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
The Economic Consequences of State Capture
Oligarchs are warping markets and corrupting economies around the world.
www.foreignaffairs.com
April 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I have a new piece out in Foreign Affairs on how #statecapture ruins economies and livelihoods...
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
www.foreignaffairs.com/guest-pass/r...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
Is this the beginning of the end for 'Adolf Tooth Fairy Hitler'? Hopefully... from @bcowdock.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...
The slow evolution of Companies House reform
Despite promising changes, criminals can continue exploiting gaps in the UK's company registration system.
www.transparency.org.uk
April 4, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Is this the beginning of the end for 'Adolf Tooth Fairy Hitler'? Hopefully... from @bcowdock.bsky.social @transparencyuk.bsky.social www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...
18 months on from landmark Companies House legislation and it's looking more like evolution than revolution. Some solid progress already achieved, but a long way still to go. www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...
The slow evolution of Companies House reform
Despite promising changes, criminals can continue exploiting gaps in the UK's company registration system.
www.transparency.org.uk
April 2, 2025 at 3:52 PM
18 months on from landmark Companies House legislation and it's looking more like evolution than revolution. Some solid progress already achieved, but a long way still to go. www.transparency.org.uk/news/slow-ev...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
Exc: MPs sound alarm over "disinformation" articles written by fake journalists.
The target was Ahsan Mansur, who is seeking UK help tracing assets allegedly stolen from Bangladesh under the regime of Sheikh Hasina and laundered into British property.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The target was Ahsan Mansur, who is seeking UK help tracing assets allegedly stolen from Bangladesh under the regime of Sheikh Hasina and laundered into British property.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
MPs think they may have been targets of ‘disinformation’ over Bangladesh inquiry
Group received emails about Ahsan Mansur, the central bank official investigating money laundering allegations
www.theguardian.com
March 24, 2025 at 7:19 AM
Exc: MPs sound alarm over "disinformation" articles written by fake journalists.
The target was Ahsan Mansur, who is seeking UK help tracing assets allegedly stolen from Bangladesh under the regime of Sheikh Hasina and laundered into British property.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
The target was Ahsan Mansur, who is seeking UK help tracing assets allegedly stolen from Bangladesh under the regime of Sheikh Hasina and laundered into British property.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
On Wednesday we published an interactive map showing the tens of thousands of UK companies hiding their beneficial owner. It's now updated - with filters and search functions.
In this thread I use it to uncover a truly shocking and unexpected case of hidden ownership.
In this thread I use it to uncover a truly shocking and unexpected case of hidden ownership.
March 21, 2025 at 9:34 AM
On Wednesday we published an interactive map showing the tens of thousands of UK companies hiding their beneficial owner. It's now updated - with filters and search functions.
In this thread I use it to uncover a truly shocking and unexpected case of hidden ownership.
In this thread I use it to uncover a truly shocking and unexpected case of hidden ownership.
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
🗣️ "There'll be undoubtedly LLPs being used in this kind of activity. They're being used either directly to send goods to Russia... as well as to circumvent sanctions"
@liambyrnemp.bsky.social quizzes @bcowdock.bsky.social on if LLPs registered with Companies House are being used to evade sanctions
@liambyrnemp.bsky.social quizzes @bcowdock.bsky.social on if LLPs registered with Companies House are being used to evade sanctions
March 19, 2025 at 4:43 PM
🗣️ "There'll be undoubtedly LLPs being used in this kind of activity. They're being used either directly to send goods to Russia... as well as to circumvent sanctions"
@liambyrnemp.bsky.social quizzes @bcowdock.bsky.social on if LLPs registered with Companies House are being used to evade sanctions
@liambyrnemp.bsky.social quizzes @bcowdock.bsky.social on if LLPs registered with Companies House are being used to evade sanctions
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
🗣️ "This has made them really attractive to money launderers, crooks and sanctioned individuals."
This afternoon @bcowdock.bsky.social gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee and explained why Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) are so attractive for those seeking to hide illicit wealth.
This afternoon @bcowdock.bsky.social gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee and explained why Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) are so attractive for those seeking to hide illicit wealth.
March 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
🗣️ "This has made them really attractive to money launderers, crooks and sanctioned individuals."
This afternoon @bcowdock.bsky.social gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee and explained why Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) are so attractive for those seeking to hide illicit wealth.
This afternoon @bcowdock.bsky.social gave evidence to the Business and Trade Committee and explained why Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) are so attractive for those seeking to hide illicit wealth.
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
Huge win! Government announces plans to open up the Land Registry.
If delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wales.
Read my blog post for more details & how you can write to the Minister to make sure this now happens:
whoownsengland.org/2025/03/06/h...
🧵1/
If delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wales.
Read my blog post for more details & how you can write to the Minister to make sure this now happens:
whoownsengland.org/2025/03/06/h...
🧵1/
Huge win! Government announces plan to open up Land Registry
This post is by Guy Shrubsole. Today the UK Government has announced plans to open up the Land Registry – which, if delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wale…
whoownsengland.org
March 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Huge win! Government announces plans to open up the Land Registry.
If delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wales.
Read my blog post for more details & how you can write to the Minister to make sure this now happens:
whoownsengland.org/2025/03/06/h...
🧵1/
If delivered, will finally reveal more about who owns land in England and Wales.
Read my blog post for more details & how you can write to the Minister to make sure this now happens:
whoownsengland.org/2025/03/06/h...
🧵1/
Big questions to answer for the service providers in the UK who facilitated these purchases. www.ft.com/content/ec75...
The Bangladeshi politician who built a shadowy global property empire
Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his family bought 482 properties overseas costing $295mn. The new government wants some of that money back
www.ft.com
February 28, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Big questions to answer for the service providers in the UK who facilitated these purchases. www.ft.com/content/ec75...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
If you're a US investigator whose work on Russian oligarchs and global kleptocrats just got shut down, consider reaching out to OCCRP.
Me (Signal): cakrawala.99
occrp.org
Me (Signal): cakrawala.99
occrp.org
Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
occrp.org
February 7, 2025 at 6:47 AM
If you're a US investigator whose work on Russian oligarchs and global kleptocrats just got shut down, consider reaching out to OCCRP.
Me (Signal): cakrawala.99
occrp.org
Me (Signal): cakrawala.99
occrp.org
The BVI has unveiled its plans to make company ownership more transparent. Unfortunately these plans would do very little to stop the money laundering that happens there on an industrial scale and may even put users of the new system in danger. Read more here: www.transparency.org.uk/news/smokesc...
A smokescreen for secrecy
Why the British Virgin Island’s corporate register reform plans fall flat
www.transparency.org.uk
February 5, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The BVI has unveiled its plans to make company ownership more transparent. Unfortunately these plans would do very little to stop the money laundering that happens there on an industrial scale and may even put users of the new system in danger. Read more here: www.transparency.org.uk/news/smokesc...
Clubs being owned by opaque firms presents a major risk. When added to the world of fixers, enablers and questionable sponsors it becomes clear that football clubs are vulnerable to those with suspect wealth to hide. See also: www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/... and josimarfootball.com/2025/01/03/8...
January 24, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Clubs being owned by opaque firms presents a major risk. When added to the world of fixers, enablers and questionable sponsors it becomes clear that football clubs are vulnerable to those with suspect wealth to hide. See also: www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/... and josimarfootball.com/2025/01/03/8...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
It took me nearly two years to report on Suella Braverman's use of private email accounts in government.
I've obtained some of the internal government emails around my FOIs, showing attempts at obfuscation and the request by an official to "gather intel" on me.
relightmyfoia.blog/2025/01/20/w...
I've obtained some of the internal government emails around my FOIs, showing attempts at obfuscation and the request by an official to "gather intel" on me.
relightmyfoia.blog/2025/01/20/w...
What happens when an FOI is selected for special treatment: intel gathering and obfuscation
Journalists often get the feeling that their FOI is being treated differently. It may be something which should be straightforward that suddenly takes months. It might be getting a phone call from …
relightmyfoia.blog
January 20, 2025 at 9:35 AM
It took me nearly two years to report on Suella Braverman's use of private email accounts in government.
I've obtained some of the internal government emails around my FOIs, showing attempts at obfuscation and the request by an official to "gather intel" on me.
relightmyfoia.blog/2025/01/20/w...
I've obtained some of the internal government emails around my FOIs, showing attempts at obfuscation and the request by an official to "gather intel" on me.
relightmyfoia.blog/2025/01/20/w...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
🗣️ "These findings should serve as a reminder to all who serve a public role to carry out thorough due diligence on who they associate with."
@bcowdock.bsky.social spoke to the @thetimes.com about the importance of due diligence for senior figures in public life.
www.thetimes.com/uk/article/r...
@bcowdock.bsky.social spoke to the @thetimes.com about the importance of due diligence for senior figures in public life.
www.thetimes.com/uk/article/r...
Revealed: Prince Andrew board member advised Chinese Communist Party
Board members of Pitch@Palace China included a former adviser to the Communist Party and the founder of a tech firm accused of helping to persecute the Uighurs
www.thetimes.com
December 20, 2024 at 9:29 AM
🗣️ "These findings should serve as a reminder to all who serve a public role to carry out thorough due diligence on who they associate with."
@bcowdock.bsky.social spoke to the @thetimes.com about the importance of due diligence for senior figures in public life.
www.thetimes.com/uk/article/r...
@bcowdock.bsky.social spoke to the @thetimes.com about the importance of due diligence for senior figures in public life.
www.thetimes.com/uk/article/r...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
The board of the Duke of York’s Chinese enterprise included two businessmen investigated in China over financial misconduct allegations, the founder of a company sanctioned in the US on human rights grounds and a former Communist Party official, The Times can reveal
www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-fam...
www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-fam...
Revealed: Prince Andrew board member advised the CCP
Board members of Pitch@Palace China included a former adviser to the Communist Party and the founder of a tech firm accused of helping to persecute the Uighurs
www.thetimes.com
December 19, 2024 at 8:09 PM
The board of the Duke of York’s Chinese enterprise included two businessmen investigated in China over financial misconduct allegations, the founder of a company sanctioned in the US on human rights grounds and a former Communist Party official, The Times can reveal
www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-fam...
www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-fam...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
Who owns London’s luxury real estate? Sometimes there's no way to know.
The family of Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev held properties in the British capital worth millions of dollars. Do they still own them?
We can't tell. They’re hidden behind a secretive offshore trust.
Our latest story🧵👇
The family of Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev held properties in the British capital worth millions of dollars. Do they still own them?
We can't tell. They’re hidden behind a secretive offshore trust.
Our latest story🧵👇
Luxury London Properties Linked to Family of Azerbaijan's President Are Hidden Behind an Offshore Trust
The family and associates of Azerbaijani strongman Ilham Aliyev acquired U.K. real estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Are they still holding onto their property empire? Despite new transpar...
www.occrp.org
December 19, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Who owns London’s luxury real estate? Sometimes there's no way to know.
The family of Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev held properties in the British capital worth millions of dollars. Do they still own them?
We can't tell. They’re hidden behind a secretive offshore trust.
Our latest story🧵👇
The family of Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev held properties in the British capital worth millions of dollars. Do they still own them?
We can't tell. They’re hidden behind a secretive offshore trust.
Our latest story🧵👇
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
NEW: It’s an arms race with criminals and the corrupt. If you get rid of offshores to hide bad actor ownership of properties, you end up with trusts. See our latest.
Luxury London Properties Linked to Family of Azerbaijan's President Are Hidden Behind an Offshore Trust
The family and associates of Azerbaijani strongman Ilham Aliyev acquired U.K. real estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Are they still holding onto their property empire? Despite new transpar...
www.occrp.org
December 19, 2024 at 5:43 PM
NEW: It’s an arms race with criminals and the corrupt. If you get rid of offshores to hide bad actor ownership of properties, you end up with trusts. See our latest.
New analysis here by @occrp.org and @transparencyuk.bsky.social on overseas companies used by Azerbaijan's ruling to hold interests in UK property. We found the familiar problem of trusts hiding full information on those behind their multi-million pound property empire. www.occrp.org/en/investiga...
Luxury London Properties Linked to Family of Azerbaijan's President Are Hidden Behind an Offshore Trust
The family and associates of Azerbaijani strongman Ilham Aliyev acquired U.K. real estate worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Are they still holding onto their property empire? Despite new transpar...
www.occrp.org
December 19, 2024 at 4:47 PM
New analysis here by @occrp.org and @transparencyuk.bsky.social on overseas companies used by Azerbaijan's ruling to hold interests in UK property. We found the familiar problem of trusts hiding full information on those behind their multi-million pound property empire. www.occrp.org/en/investiga...
Reposted by Ben Cowdock
With news that Bangaldesh's Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating City minister Tulip Siddiq, here is our investigation into London's links to alleged corruption involving the former Bangladesh elite, under the regime ruled by Siddiq's aunt.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Money trail: questions over deposed Bangladeshi elite’s £400m UK property empire
Associates of former Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina have spent millions buying up top-flight property assets in the UK
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2024 at 10:50 AM
With news that Bangaldesh's Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating City minister Tulip Siddiq, here is our investigation into London's links to alleged corruption involving the former Bangladesh elite, under the regime ruled by Siddiq's aunt.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...