Scotland's cheap partnership service linked to money-laundering schemes and dubious operators
Investigators found that a Glasgow address hosts a firm selling Scottish Limited Partnerships to overseas clients, many of whom are suspected of laundering illicit funds.
A modest office on Glasgow's Dumbarton Road is being used to market Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLPs) to foreign clients, a vehicle frequently exploited for money-laundering and tax evasion. The service, advertised by Scotland LP, charges £500 to create an SLP and offers banking connections for an additional £400. Ownership traces back to Havard Arneson Haugen, a Norwegian entrepreneur previously accused of running a child-sex-exploitation chat site and a fake-news portal.
Transparency International UK and former Holyrood Ukraine group chair have called on Scottish authorities to halt the flow of dirty money, while UK officials point to recent Companies House reforms as a deterrent. Other formation agents with Moscow links, such as GSL Law and Consulting, continue to sell similar packages, some accepting cryptocurrency. Critics argue that despite tighter rules, SLPs still provide a conduit for sanctioned Russian interests and other high-risk actors.
Why it matters
The story shows how easy access to Scottish corporate structures can enable international money-laundering and evade sanctions.
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