More than 1.4 million euros were seized by the Federal Judicial Police (PJF) in Brussels as part of a large survey for money laundering. The operation, carried out on April 23, also led to the arrest of ten people and the seizure of six vehicles, the Brussels prosecutor’s office announced on Friday.
160 police officers mobilized
The operation mobilized 160 police officers who made a total of 36 searches, targeting 18 homes of suspects and 18 seats of companies. Ten people were deprived of freedom and six vehicles were seized. The ten people arrested were all charged with the head of participation in a criminal organization and money laundering, as well as, for some of them, false and use of false in scriptures. The investigating judge has placed four under arrest warrants, including an accountant. The other six accused were released, 5 under conditions and another simply.
The alleged leader of the criminal organization took refuge in Dubai and is actively sought, adds the public prosecutor.
According to the prosecution, the suspects would have used a technique of “compensation“Allowing criminals with money from drug trafficking in particular to cooperate with companies looking for unleashed workers. By way of compensation, these managers, under the cover of false invoices, would have made bank transfers for equivalent amounts on accounts in Belgium or abroad for the benefit of criminals.
The alleged criminal organization would have generated illegal capital of 54 million euros since 2020, transferred via screens companies led by straw men.
