A massive money-laundering operation linked to Russian mafia groups has been dismantled across Spain and Portugal. Fourteen individuals were arrested in a series of raids that targeted a €1 trillion criminal network. The investigation began in 2023 when authorities noticed several members of the Russian mafia transferring large sums of money between Spain and foreign nationals on a daily basis. The ring operated with a multinational scope, laundering money for various criminal organizations from countries such as Albania, Serbia, Armenia, China, Ukraine, and Colombia. Law enforcement agencies, including Spain’s National Police and Europol, were involved in the raids and the network’s disruption.
The laundering operation primarily handled funds from illegal drug trafficking, charging a commission of 2-3% per transfer. The network utilized the “Hawala” method, a traditional system where brokers in different locations facilitate transfers between customers without the need for physical or digital movement of money. The operation’s scale was vast, with each office processing up to €300,000 daily, and nine properties were raided in cities like Madrid, Málaga, Marbella, and Lisbon. Authorities seized over €1 million in cash and cryptocurrencies, highlighting the financial scale of the criminal enterprise.
Investigators discovered that the gang was planning to expand its activities into Cuba, where they sought to engage in a deal with the Cuban government to install solar panels in exchange for minerals. The group also had connections to high-level Spanish political figures, further illustrating the depth of their operations. To avoid detection, the gang employed various tactics, such as constantly changing locations, using encrypted phones, and setting up high-security safes and soundproof money-counting machines in the raided properties. These measures were designed to obscure the activities and prevent law enforcement from intercepting their operations.
At the time of the raids, three of the ringleaders were taken into custody, but authorities have indicated that more arrests could follow. This investigation underscores the international nature of organized crime and money laundering, with criminal groups leveraging sophisticated methods to move illicit funds across borders. The success of the operation marks a significant blow to the Russian mafia’s ability to launder money within the EU, and further action may continue as authorities track down additional members of the criminal network.
