In Spain, the police uncovered a money-laundering network of the "Russian mafia"

The largest operation against the Russian mafia's money laundering network in 10 years was conducted in Spain, the National Police reported on Wednesday.

As the finanz.ru, during a series of raids that began on Monday, on the Costa Blanca coast, as well as in Madrid, Valencia and Ibiza, 23 people were detained, including Russians.

The investigation, which continued since 2013, revealed that criminal groups from the countries of the former USSR use Spain as an "entry point" to Europe, investing money in real estate, discotheques and hotels, the police said in a statement. Leaders of the group constantly and systematically invested money, the legality of which was not confirmed, including through shell companies and third parties.

Funds obtained from illegal activities, including in Europe, South America and the USA, were used for laundering, and some of them were used to bribe officials and politicians in strategic sectors. This, according to the police statement, helped the "mafia" avoid punishment for years with the help of bribes and bribery.


"In the course of seven years of investigation, it was possible to prove how the criminals conducted money laundering operations through numerous investment projects, buying land, luxury real estate, restaurants, warehouses, yachts and planning to purchase one of the largest nightclubs in Ibiza," the statement says.

During the arrest, 300 euros in cash, six firearms, two rifles, including a sniper rifle with a silencer, two pistols, as well as cryptocurrency, diamonds, and 16 luxury cars were seized from the suspects. Bank accounts and assets worth millions of euros are blocked.