City of London Police Secure Interpol Silver Notice in Hunt for Fugitive Fraudster’s Assets

The City of London Police has obtained an Interpol silver notice in its efforts to trace and recover assets linked to Anthony Constantinou, who orchestrated a £70mn Ponzi-style investment scheme. Constantinou was sentenced in June 2023 to 14 years in prison after being convicted of fraud by false representation, fraudulent trading, and money laundering. In addition, he was ordered to repay £64mn or face a further 14 years behind bars. However, during his trial he absconded and remains at large, according to the City of London Police.

The silver notice allows member nations to share and request information about assets connected to criminals across international borders, enabling law enforcement agencies to cooperate in tracking and recovering the proceeds of crime. The request was made by the City of London Police after receiving intelligence that Constantinou holds assets in multiple foreign jurisdictions. Authorities intend to locate and confiscate these funds with the aim of compensating victims of the scheme.

Constantinou operated Capital World Markets between late 2013 and early 2015. The company lured investors by promising returns of about 5 per cent per month on what it claimed were risk-free foreign exchange transactions, requiring minimum investments typically ranging from £50,000 to £100,000. By March 2015, some £70mn had been invested. In reality, the guarantees of high returns were fabricated, and no investments were made in foreign exchange markets. Instead, investors were paid using funds from new entrants, while the rest of the money was spent.

Interpol had already issued a red notice for Constantinou, urging member states to locate and arrest him so he can be returned to the UK to serve his sentence. The silver notice now adds a parallel focus on asset recovery.

Deputy Commissioner Nik Adams of the City of London Police stated: “This is a significant step forward in our ongoing commitment to delivering justice and compensating the many victims of Constantinou. We recognise the profound impact this has had on those involved, and we are actively working to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve. Through close partnership working - both nationally and with our international counterparts, we will now work to recover potential assets held abroad and apply to confiscate them.”

Police have urged the public to come forward with any information concerning Constantinou’s assets or current whereabouts.

By fLEXI tEAM