Ten arrests and nearly 1.5m seized in Brussels money laundering case
Ten people have been arrested and nearly 1.5 million euros seized in a Brussels money laundering case, reported the Brussels public prosecutor's office. In the case, drug money was passed on to employers who used it to pay their employees off the books. Since 2020, the criminal organisation is said to have generated illegal assets of 54 million euros.
In late 2023, the Brussels Federal Judicial Police launched an investigation following a report by the Financial Information Processing Unit, which contained strong indications about a large money laundering case involving so-called compensation techniques. This involves criminals in possession of large sums of illegal cash money teaming up with people looking for cash to pay undeclared employees.
In this case, cash money - obtained mainly from drug trafficking - was allegedly passed on to directors of companies who used the money to pay their workers off the books. As compensation, those employers would carry out bank transfers, using fake invoices, for the amounts previously handed over in cash, for the benefit of the criminals. This was done both to accounts in Belgium and abroad.
In this way, the criminal organisation is said to have generated illegal assets of 54 million euros since 2020. Money that was funnelled via front companies, the public prosecutor's office said.
Suspected leader in Dubai
About a week ago, on 23 April, 36 searches were carried out at the homes of several suspects and at the rogue companies. A total of 160 officers were called in for this purpose. Ten people were arrested, four of whom - including an accountant – are still in custody. Five defendants were released with conditions, one person without conditions. A total of 1,417,000 euros was seized, as well as six vehicles.
The suspected leader of the criminal organisation fled to Dubai and is currently being tracked down. The investigation is continuing.
Illustration © BELGA PHOTO PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP
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