Assets worth £400k linked to first UWO case seized

On Tuesday 30th October, the NCA seized 49 items of high value jewellery from an auction house under the ‘listed assets’ provisions introduced by the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

In total, the items are valued at more than £400,000 for auction purposes and include a Boucheron sapphire and ruby necklace valued at £80,000 - £120,000 and a Van Cleef & Arpels pearl necklace valued at £20,000 - originally purchased by Jahangir Hajiyev in San Moritz in 2008 for Eur 320,000 .

It is the view of the NCA that the source of the funds to purchase the jewellery requires further investigation.
On Thursday 1st November, District Judge Snow at Westminster Magistrates Court granted detention of the assets for six months to allow further investigation of the property, to determine whether it is recoverable.

The items were seized from Christie’s auction house, where they were being valued for Zamira Hajiyeva’s daughter, Leyla Mahmudova. Christie’s auction house cooperated with the investigation, complying with a formal request for information regarding the listed assets.

Notes to editors:
The jewellery is not subject to the UWO – it was seized using the listed asset provision of the CFA 2017: Ch 3A, section 303B –Z POCA 2002.
Images show:
Photo 1: A sapphire and ruby serpent pendant – Boucheron (Guide price £80,000 - £120,000)
Photo 2: A Magic Alhambra bracelet – Van Cleef & Arpels (Guide price £15,000 - £20,000)
Photo 3: A diamond Panthere pendant – Cartier (Guide price £7,000 - £9,000)
Photo 4: A diamond cluster and bar necklace (Guide price £4,000 - £6,000)