More than eight million euros seized in large-scale money laundering probe
More than eight million euros have been seized in a large-scale money laundering investigation, the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office said on Wednesday. Four people have been charged in Belgium, one of whom has been placed under arrest warrant.
The case centres on an alleged scheme in which several million euros were laundered over the past five years through a Brussels-based business. The funds are said to originate from drug trafficking in France and were allegedly transported to Belgium by money couriers.
“The Federal Judicial Police carried out an operation on Saturday, June 6, in a large-scale money laundering case,” said Public Prosecutor’s Office spokesperson Laura Demullier. “The investigation has shown that proceeds from criminal activities in the drug trade in France were allegedly transferred to Belgium by money couriers. The money was then allegedly laundered in Brussels through a business. In total, several million euros are said to have been laundered in this way over a period of five years.”
During the operation on June 6, 17 house searches were carried out and six people were temporarily deprived of their liberty. Authorities also seized eight million euros, alongside three luxury cars and high-end watches.
“The suspects were brought before the investigating judge,” the spokesperson added. “One person was placed under arrest warrant, and three other suspects were charged and released under conditions.”
The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office said the operation was carried out in close cooperation with French judicial authorities and Eurojust. “A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was established to ensure an efficient exchange of information between the files of the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Paris organised crime department, an investigating judge from the JIRS Paris, an investigating judge from the French-speaking Court of First Instance of Brussels, OFAST of Bordeaux, ONAF, and the Federal Judicial Police of Brussels.”
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