Five properties searched across UK in multi-million pound bribery probe linked to Microsoft data centre

Four homes and a commercial premises were today (April 30 2025) searched by officers from the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) before it announced a new multi-million pound international bribery investigation.

The target of the investigation is UK construction company Blu-3 and former associates of the global construction firm Mace Group.

The operation included a search of a suspect’s premises today by Monaco authorities with assistance from the SFO.

Individuals at Blu-3 are suspected of paying over £3 million of bribes to former associates of Mace Group in relation to the construction of a data centre in the Netherlands for the technology giant Microsoft.

More than 70 SFO staff searched four homes and one commercial property across London, Kent, Surrey and Somerset today to seize evidence. Three individuals were arrested for questioning.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP attended one of the arrests in North London this morning.

Today’s operation and our continuing investigation is supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Nick Ephgrave QPM, Director of the Serious Fraud Office, said: “Paying bribes to do business undermines our financial markets, the reputation of British companies and the rule of law and will not be tolerated.

“Today’s action is a reminder that we will take rapid and robust action to tackle suspected bribery and corruption wherever it appears – at home and overseas.”

The images were all taken at a site searched in North London this morning.

In March this year, the SFO, France’s Parquet National Financier (PNF) and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) founded a new taskforce to strengthen collaboration to tackle international bribery and corruption at an event in London.  

All three countries have wide-reaching anti-bribery legislation with jurisdiction to prosecute criminal conduct that occurs overseas, if there is a link to the prosecuting country.  

The taskforce will strengthen existing ties between these countries and lead to greater joint working on cases, as well as sharing of insight and expertise.  

Mr Ephgrave said: "The commitment we have made today reaffirms our individual and collective commitment to tackling the pernicious threat of international bribery and corruption, wherever it occurs. 

"We will make use of every power and partnership available to confront this criminality. This taskforce is an important step forward in our approach."

Jean-François Bohnert, Head of the Parquet National Financier, said: " am delighted that ten years of operational cooperation between the PNF, SFO and OAG are developing today into the setting up of a prosecutorial taskforce.

"This taskforce will definitely strengthen our current cooperation in order to fight more efficiently against bribery and corruption in individual cases."

Stefan Blättler, Attorney General of the Swiss Confederation, said: "Within the framework of this cooperation, we will be able to help ensure that fraud and crime can be better combated in the future."

Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said: "I welcome the SFO’s commitment to working even more closely with their French and Swiss partners, including by setting up this new taskforce to tackle international bribery and corruption.

"Through strong international partnerships, we will be able to robustly tackle cross-border economic crime and protect our future prosperity."

A Blu-3 spokesperson said: "blu-3 is currently supporting an external SFO investigation and is fully cooperating with the agency.

"We take matters of this nature extremely seriously and are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct across all of our operations.”

Mace Group has been contacted for comment.