Five members of a Chinese criminal network have been arrested in Spain following a coordinated operation supported by Europol. The arrests, made between July 2 and 3, resulted from a series of searches across Madrid, Valencia, Alicante, and Barcelona, involving around 100 Spanish police officers along with French Judicial Customs and Europol experts. The operation led to the seizure of approximately €160,000 in cash and uncovered the network’s extensive criminal activities.
The investigation began in February 2021, initiated by French authorities after discovering over €500,000 hidden in a vehicle’s concealed compartment in Perpignan. This probe, led by France’s National Anti-Fraud Office (ONAF) and directed by the Marseille interregional jurisdiction (JIRS), exposed a complex money laundering network operated by Chinese nationals. The network had been active across Europe since at least 2019, with the ability to smuggle over €1 million in cash daily.
The criminal network was involved in various illegal activities, including trafficking counterfeit goods, committing tax and customs fraud, and engaging in prostitution. The group employed a sophisticated logistics operation to facilitate the movement of large sums of cash throughout Europe. This extensive criminal enterprise was eventually dismantled through the joint efforts of international law enforcement.
The operation was financially supported by the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT). Authorities from France and Spain played key roles in the operation, with the French National Anti-Fraud Office and the Spanish National Police leading the efforts to disrupt the network’s operations and seize the illicit funds.
