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Two suspects charged with large-scale money laundering have been detained in Latvia and Lithuania. In particular, "laundresses" are suspected of legalizing 15 million rubles, which were obtained through fictitious renovation of buildings in Italy. eurojust.europa.eu
They worked through a network of shell companies
"In the course of an international operation, the law enforcement agencies of Lithuania, Latvia and Italy arrested two people suspected of illegally legalizing 2 billion euros through a financial institution that previously worked in Lithuania," the Latvian Prosecutor's Office also reported, citing Eurojust (eurojust.europa.eu).
The two main detainees are suspected of illegally legalizing about 2 billion euros through a global network of shell companies since 2017.
Presumably, they provided Internet services for the legalization of illegally obtained money.
Another suspect, the leader of another organized crime group, was arrested in Italy during the operation.
Apparently, this suspect could have fraudulently received 15 million euros of public funds from Italian state structures.
And these funds may have been legalized through the same network of shell companies linked to a financial institution that previously operated in Lithuania.
The activity of this electronic payment institution was closed in 2022. His banking license was revoked and bankruptcy proceedings were initiated for non-compliance with the rules for preventing money laundering.
Money was laundered by fraudsters and drug dealers
According to Eurojust, a financial institution in Lithuania offered services to "launder" thousands of criminals in the EU by conducting fictitious financial transactions through a network of shell companies.
The company advertised its alleged consulting services on the Internet and was set up in Lithuania in 2016, allegedly by members of an Italian organized crime group.
The financial institution was headed by two main suspects - Italian citizens who lived in Lithuania and Latvia.
Thus, members of an organized criminal group illegally "laundered" money from various crimes, including tax evasion, fraud on the Internet and the sale of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
Part of the money received as a result of criminal activity was invested in Latvia and Lithuania through the purchase of real estate and cars.
Scam with building insulation: 15 million rubles were stolen
Among the illegally "laundered" funds were 15 million euros received from the Italian authorities for possibly illegally receiving state aid for renovation of buildings, which in fact was not carried out.
The main suspect in this fraud was a tax consultant, who arranged for 72 individuals to apply for this assistance, who would have been aware of the abuse that was taking place. Assistance from the state was intended for building insulation, other energy-saving measures, and repairs.
Investigations into the activities of this criminal group were launched in Italy, in the prosecutor's offices of Naples and Lecce, as well as in Latvia.
18 detentions in two weeks
The state police informs that the operation continues. A total of 18 people have been arrested in the last 2 weeks.
About 250 law enforcement officers from Lithuania, Italy and Latvia participated in the international operation.
In total, seven people were arrested, 11 suspects were placed under house arrest, 55 searches were conducted, and assets worth 11.5 million euros were frozen.
In 2021, the prosecutor's office of Naples and Leche in Italy launched an investigation, and in 2022, investigators from Latvia and Lithuania are involved through Eurojust.
The rapid response of the Latvian and Lithuanian authorities to suspicious transactions made it possible to identify and freeze millions in time, as well as confiscate real estate and luxury vehicles.
Eurojust and Europol have played a key role in facilitating and coordinating international activities. During the investigation, Eurojust supported the creation and financing of a joint investigation team between all the state agencies involved. A total of eight coordination meetings were held to prepare for the operation for institutions in Italy, Latvia and Lithuania. These preparations also prevented possible conflicts of jurisdiction. As a result, Eurojust facilitated the return to Italy of funds frozen by the Lithuanian authorities in the amount of more than 3 million euros.
Participants in this operation
Italy: Naples and Leche Prosecutor's Offices, Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza);
Latvia: Prosecutor General's Office, Riga Judicial District Prosecutor's Office, 1st Division of the Economic Crimes Department of the Main Criminal Police Department of the State Police;
Lithuania: Vilnius District Prosecutor's Office and Vilnius District Police Department.
• Source: https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/news...money-laundering-network-lithuanian-financial
They worked through a network of shell companies
"In the course of an international operation, the law enforcement agencies of Lithuania, Latvia and Italy arrested two people suspected of illegally legalizing 2 billion euros through a financial institution that previously worked in Lithuania," the Latvian Prosecutor's Office also reported, citing Eurojust (eurojust.europa.eu).
The two main detainees are suspected of illegally legalizing about 2 billion euros through a global network of shell companies since 2017.
Presumably, they provided Internet services for the legalization of illegally obtained money.
Another suspect, the leader of another organized crime group, was arrested in Italy during the operation.
Apparently, this suspect could have fraudulently received 15 million euros of public funds from Italian state structures.
And these funds may have been legalized through the same network of shell companies linked to a financial institution that previously operated in Lithuania.
The activity of this electronic payment institution was closed in 2022. His banking license was revoked and bankruptcy proceedings were initiated for non-compliance with the rules for preventing money laundering.
Money was laundered by fraudsters and drug dealers
According to Eurojust, a financial institution in Lithuania offered services to "launder" thousands of criminals in the EU by conducting fictitious financial transactions through a network of shell companies.
The company advertised its alleged consulting services on the Internet and was set up in Lithuania in 2016, allegedly by members of an Italian organized crime group.
The financial institution was headed by two main suspects - Italian citizens who lived in Lithuania and Latvia.
Thus, members of an organized criminal group illegally "laundered" money from various crimes, including tax evasion, fraud on the Internet and the sale of narcotic and psychotropic substances.
Part of the money received as a result of criminal activity was invested in Latvia and Lithuania through the purchase of real estate and cars.
Scam with building insulation: 15 million rubles were stolen
Among the illegally "laundered" funds were 15 million euros received from the Italian authorities for possibly illegally receiving state aid for renovation of buildings, which in fact was not carried out.
The main suspect in this fraud was a tax consultant, who arranged for 72 individuals to apply for this assistance, who would have been aware of the abuse that was taking place. Assistance from the state was intended for building insulation, other energy-saving measures, and repairs.
Investigations into the activities of this criminal group were launched in Italy, in the prosecutor's offices of Naples and Lecce, as well as in Latvia.
18 detentions in two weeks
The state police informs that the operation continues. A total of 18 people have been arrested in the last 2 weeks.
About 250 law enforcement officers from Lithuania, Italy and Latvia participated in the international operation.
In total, seven people were arrested, 11 suspects were placed under house arrest, 55 searches were conducted, and assets worth 11.5 million euros were frozen.
In 2021, the prosecutor's office of Naples and Leche in Italy launched an investigation, and in 2022, investigators from Latvia and Lithuania are involved through Eurojust.
The rapid response of the Latvian and Lithuanian authorities to suspicious transactions made it possible to identify and freeze millions in time, as well as confiscate real estate and luxury vehicles.
Eurojust and Europol have played a key role in facilitating and coordinating international activities. During the investigation, Eurojust supported the creation and financing of a joint investigation team between all the state agencies involved. A total of eight coordination meetings were held to prepare for the operation for institutions in Italy, Latvia and Lithuania. These preparations also prevented possible conflicts of jurisdiction. As a result, Eurojust facilitated the return to Italy of funds frozen by the Lithuanian authorities in the amount of more than 3 million euros.
Participants in this operation
Italy: Naples and Leche Prosecutor's Offices, Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza);
Latvia: Prosecutor General's Office, Riga Judicial District Prosecutor's Office, 1st Division of the Economic Crimes Department of the Main Criminal Police Department of the State Police;
Lithuania: Vilnius District Prosecutor's Office and Vilnius District Police Department.
• Source: https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/news...money-laundering-network-lithuanian-financial
