European Authorities Bust $15M Crypto Laundering, Hawala Network, €19M Migrant Trafficking, and 18,800 Tonnes Plastic Waste Trade

Authorities in Europe have dismantled multiple criminal networks involved in money laundering, migrant trafficking, and illegal waste trade. Hong Kong police uncovered a $15 million laundering ring that utilized cryptocurrency and 500 bank accounts. Europol arrested members of a 'Hawala Banking' network that laundered money for criminal groups through parallel banking services, illegal hawala banking, and cryptocurrency exchanges. The operation involved Chinese nationals managing cash collection in Spain and Arab nationals handling international transfers. In Spain, Portugal, and France, law enforcement disrupted a criminal network trafficking plastic waste, with Spanish authorities reporting the transport of 18,800 tonnes of plastic from Portugal and France to Spain. Additionally, a Sino-Arab migrant trafficking network was dismantled; it allegedly laundered €19 million and transported about 1,000 Syrian migrants from Algeria to Spain using drug boats.