Bangladesh, July 25 -- British authorities have frozen at least $33 million worth of luxury London real estate owned by Xu Haika, a businessman under investigation in connection with Singapores largest-ever money laundering case, marking another significant step in an international effort to trace and preserve assets allegedly linked to transnational financial crime.

The asset freeze, carried out by the United Kingdoms National Crime Agency (NCA), affects 16 high-end apartments in central London that were acquired through UK-registered companies controlled by Xu. The properties are located in two adjoining luxury residential developments near Tottenham Court Road, one of Londons most sought-after districts.

According to land registry re...