Should UK law enforcement authorities suspect that money is derived from, or will be used for, criminal activities, they have a potentially devastating tool at their disposal : Account Freezing and Forfeiture Orders (“AFFOs”). Whilst AFFOs have received far less media attention than Unexplained Wealth Orders (“UWOs”), they are a serious cause for concern. Only two UWOs have been granted in the UK to date, and yet there has been a significant surge in AFFOs in recent years. Comparatively easy to obtain and hard to discharge, AFFO’s pose a very real threat to individuals with liquid assets held in the UK. Read more