Russian mafia gang for money that broke in Spain

Fourteen people have been arrested in Spain and Portugal in a series of raids aimed at a criminal money network of € 1 (£ 828 billion) that works with gangs throughout Europe.

Most of the suspects, arrested last month, are Russian citizens, according to the agency for the application of the EU Europol law.

The ring mainly washed money caused by illegal drug trafficking and charged 2-3% of the commission by transfer as part of “a true multinational money laundering company,” according to the National Police of Spain.

Nine properties were entered into cities throughout Spain, as well as in the Portuguese capital Lisbon, and more than € 1m in cash and cryptocurrencies were seized.

The gang operated in cities from all over Spain with each office by processing up to € 300,000 per day for albanic, Serbian, Armenian, Chinese, Ukrainian and Colombian mafias based in the EU and other places.

The investigation began in 2023 when the police noticed that several known members of the Russian mafia were systematically transferring money belonging to foreign citizens inside and outside Spain daily.

Europol said the scheme used the “Hawala” method that involves customers in a place that approaches a corridor that then contacts a colleague in another place that transfers the desired amount to the recipient.

This allowed gangs to transfer money through countries without moving it physically or digitally between bank accounts.

The gang also sought to expand its business to Cuba with the aim of installing solar panels to provide energy to the Cuban government in exchange for minerals.

During telephone calls with Cuban officials, gang members claimed to have close links with Spanish political leaders.

Each of the properties attacked in Madrid, Málaga, Marbella, Torremolinos, Coín, Ayamonte and Lisbon contained a safe high security machine and a machine that contains money stored in a sound -proof cabinet used to obscure the recognizable noise of the counties of money.

Gang members avoided detection regularly changing the location and vehicles and the use of encrypted mobile phones.

The phones were linked in such a way that if a group member were arrested, mobile phones of the entire ring would be blocked simultaneously.

Police say that the three leaders remain in custody and say that other arrests are possible.