Pictured: CAB swoop on Louth 'White House' mansion belonging to 'leader of crime group' and glamorous wife
CAB officers arrived in several vehicles at the luxury €1m property of Eduard and Natalia Chiper
This is the moment officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau and gardai seized a luxury property belonging to the ‘Irish-based leader of a transnational organised crime group’ and his wife.
On Tuesday morning, at 11am, CAB officers arrived in several vehicles at the luxury €1m property of Eduard and Natalia Chiper at The White House, Tullyard in Ballymakenny, Co Louth, to take possession of it as part of the CAB’s case against the couple. Other assets have also been seized.
The glamorous couple -who lived a luxurious lifestyle and took lavish holidays in Spain, Canada, Miami, Euro Disney and Iceland between 2017 and 2019 -settled their case against the CAB in October allowing their luxury mansion at The White House, Tullyard in Ballymakenny and other assets be seized.
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The couple had a €1m cannabis possession case dropped by the DPP because others had access to their garage where the drugs were stored, which we earlier revealed.
This is despite the Criminal Assets Bureau - and other law enforcement agencies - stating their belief that Eduard is the head of a ‘transnational organised crime group suspected of trafficking controlled drugs as well as firearms throughout Europe and Russia.
Eduard (49) and Natalia (43), who had a painting and decorating firm, KED Decor, which affidavits show brought in a modest income, both moved to Ireland from Moldova in 2000 and 2002 respectively.
The couple they claimed they purchased the luxurious two-storey house in Ballymakenny, which the CAB say is worth €1m, for €200k in 2014 by selling property in Moldova and borrowing money from friends with the CAB stating the only funds connected to the purchase originate from a Moldovan bank account held by Natalia’s dad Timofei Marcu.
“It is my belief that the origin of the funds are derived from the proceeds of criminal activity, namely the trafficking of controlled drugs and firearms,” a senior CAB officer stated in an affidavit.
The property, complete with tennis court, was finished to an extremely high standard, officers from the CAB stated, “with lavish decor and much of the house finished with marble, decorative finishes to walls and ceilings, a number of different chandeliers, a digital grand piano and expensive furnishings throughout each of the rooms including a gold sink pedestal in the main ensuite bathroom.”
In sworn affidavits Eduard claimed he studied medicine for six years in Moldova training to be a doctor - but he could not afford the accreditation exam fees when he arrived in Ireland so started working as a painter and decorator.
And Natalia claimed she studied accountancy for five years in Moldova and holds an accounting degree - but that her dad had bribed an official at the university to obtain her certification and she was in fact ‘bad with numbers.’
It is the CAB’s belief that “Mr Chiper engages in money laundering to attempt to hide the proceeds of his illegal activities and his wife Natalia is a willing accomplice.”
A CAB officer also believes the painting company, KED Decor Ltd, which Natalia admitted she was a director of and employed 15 people, is “utilised to assist with money laundering and to provide a cover of employment to OCG members.
Now that the mansion has been seized it is expected to go for auction next year.
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