British police have seized more than £12 million (US$15.6 million) of dinosaur skeletons after agreeing to a settlement with a Chinese national suspected of being part of a huge money-laundering scandal.

Su Binghai agreed to forfeit three complete fossilised skeletons, along with nine London apartments, bought for around £15 million, but he will be able to keep 25 per cent of all the sale proceeds, a lawyer for the National Crime Agency said at a court hearing on Tuesday.

Su was previously wanted for involvement in Singapore’s biggest money-laundering case, but an Interpol notice for his arrest was dropped by the country’s authorities after he and his wife agreed to forfeit their assets to the state in a broader deal involving multiple suspects on the run.

The dinosaur remains, between 145 million and 157 million years old, comprise of a mother and baby Allosaurus, as well as a Stegosaurus. They were sold by Christie’s International by auction at the Jurassic Icons auction in 2024.

Eleven Chinese artefacts bought from auction house Sotheby’s were also forfeited.

Su agreed to a “full and final settlement of all claims”, according to a copy of the NCA order. His lawyers declined to comment after the court hearing.