Russia-linked banker accused of using Scots firms to help war in Ukraine blacklisted by USA

A Swiss banker accused of using Scottish firms to help Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine has been added to a major trade blacklist by the US Government. Three Edinburgh-based firms owned by Anselm Oskar Schmuki have been added to America’s foreign assets control database in an effort to “degrade Russia’s ability to acquire the items it needs to sustain its military aggression”.

Kraverton LP, Welmart Group LP and Saling Development LP are all Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLPs) based at the same address although they appear to be inactive. An expert warned that although the firms look dormant Schmucki could reactivate them at any time and use them to funnel money to Moscow.

Money laundering and financial crime expert Graham Barrow said: “There is nothing to stop these partnerships from being resuscitated at any time in the future and for Mr Schmucki to resume economic activity behind their facade.”

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Schmucki is the former head of the Russian office of DuLac capital - a Swiss asset management firm - although management claim he resigned from the role in late 2022. The firms he controls in Edinburgh have no online presence and were set up on May 24 and 25, 2016.

Company records show they’re all registered to Suite 1, 4 Queen Street, Edinburgh - which is also listed as the HQ of 428 other companies.

Schmucki has also been added to the UK’s sanctions list with the UK government stating: “He is or has been involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the Government of Russia by carrying on business in a sector of strategic significance, namely the Russian Financial Services Sector.”

Barrow said dozens of other SLPs owned by Russians or other Soviet Union citizens were set up on the same two dates as Schmucki’s and are favoured by those who want to hide what they’re doing.

He said: “Scottish Limited Partnerships have traditionally been set up by company service providers on behalf of underlying beneficial owners. It’s not uncommon to see many of these companies being set up on the same day at the same address.

“They’re popular with those who wish to hide what they are up to as the reporting requirements are minimal and they do not include the need to file accounts or disclose the location of their owners or partners. Even the minimal information which is provided is not subject to any form of verification.

“There’s little ongoing interrogation of the data so whilst the three SLPs linked to Mr Schmucki are all currently dissolved, there is nothing to stop these partnerships from being resuscitated in the future and for Mr Schmuki to resume economic activity behind their facade.

“Even though their use has subsided somewhat in recent years they were very popular with members of the elite from most of the former Soviet states for exactly those reasons.”

Lanarkshire firm Nero Drinks is also included on the blacklist due to its owners’ links to the Kinahan crime gang. Glasgow mum Nicola Morrissey owns the firm, which produces vodka, with her husband Johnny Morrisey acting as a brand ambassador

The US Treasury previously said: “John Morrissey, who outwardly serves as the Nero Drinks’ brand ambassador, is heavily invested in Nero Drinks and has given a significant portion of the business to Daniel Kinahan to compensate for loads of drugs seized by law enforcement. John Morrissey controls and operates Nero Drinks through his wife, the primary shareholder, who is used as a frontperson for his interests.”

Kinahan - son of convicted Irish drug trafficker Christy Kinahan Senior - is a boxing promoter with links to stars like Tyson Fury but has been named in Irish courts as a leader in global organised crime networks despite having no criminal convictions.

Morrissey was released on bail in Spain in May after being arrested alongside wife Nicola. in a dawn raid in September 2022 He is alleged to have helped the Kinahan’s launder up to £297,000 a day and will now face trial.

Dundee man James Alexander McLintock is also blacklisted after being accused of raising money for terrorist groups. McLintock, who now lives in Pakistan, has multiple aliases including Yaqub McLintock and Abu Abdullah Al-Skotlandi.

He is said to be involved in charity Al-Rahmah Welfare Organisation which was used to channel funds to al-Qaeda and the Taliban under the guise of helping Afghan orphans.

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