FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiThe organization operated in Marbella, Spain, through a "clandestine bank" that laundered money for the mafias of Italy and Albania. It is estimated that this illegal 'cell' managed to circulate between 80 and 100 million euros annually in Europe for at least three years.
An Italian citizen has been arrested in Marbella, Spain, as the head of the so-called "Iberian cell" of a criminal network dedicated to financing and laundering funds of mafia organizations from Italy and Albania.
The structure collected cash from clothing stores located in industrial areas of Madrid, Seville and Malaga, then deposited it in a clandestine bank.
This was announced by the Ministry of Finance in a statement about the "Easy Money" operation, carried out simultaneously by officials of the Customs Supervision Service of the Tax Agency and the State Police in Spain and Italy.
The “Iberian cell” was based in Malaga and was responsible for collecting cash for the clandestine bank. According to the statement, this branch was run by an Italian citizen recently arrested in South America and his sister. The woman arrested in Marbella was the current de facto leader of the cell.
The arrest was carried out last Monday in Marbella, pursuant to a European Arrest and Surrender Warrant. Customs Surveillance Service officials placed the arrested woman, an Italian national, at the disposal of the National Court.
Within the framework of two European Investigation Orders, coordinated by the Special Prosecution Office against Drugs, ten search and seizure orders were executed, authorized by the Investigative Section of the Court of First Instance in Marbella.
The checks were carried out at the headquarters of Spanish companies linked to the case and at the arrestee's apartment in Marbella, where documents, "B" (secret) accounting, cash and electronic equipment were seized to be analyzed.
The investigation, launched by the Florence Anti-Mafia District Directorate, points to a criminal organization led by a Chinese national living in Prato, which operated as a transnational "illegal bank" since 2021.
The system was based on the "hawala" trust mechanism, known in the Chinese version as "Fei-Ch'ien", which allowed the virtual transfer of capital between Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands through a network of intermediaries who received a commission for each transaction.
The clients of this clandestine bank were "dangerous cartels" of Albanian drug traffickers located in central and northern Italy, according to the statement, which also mentions the participation of Italian mafia organizations.
In Italy, 40 people have been arrested for criminal offenses related to drug trafficking, illegal immigration and money laundering, while assets worth over 60 million euros have been seized.
Investigators estimate that the network was responsible for the turnover of 80 to 100 million euros per year for at least three years.
The operation was coordinated by Eurojust, the Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office and the Florence Prosecutor's Office. The AEAT Support and Liaison Unit at the Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office, the AEAT IT Audit Unit and Europol also participated./ EL ESPANOL
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