Millions seized in criminal asset laundering investigation

A substantial number of residences and commercial premises in the Netherlands, Montenegro, Liechtenstein, Spain and Switzerland were searched in an international money laundering investigation by a combined team of police and the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD). Administrative files, property, bank accounts, cash and watches were seized. The combined value is estimated to be in excess of 10 million Euros. 

The suspect is a 60-year-old man living in the municipality of Heusden, staying in Rosmalen. He has been suspected of laundering proceeds of crime since 2002. The suspect was previously convicted of facilitating drug transport for criminal organizations. To this end, he made use of corporations in several countries. These dealt in outwardly legal activities, such as  buying and selling of tools, including reels, drill bits and ashpalt shredders. They were presumably used as fronts for drug trade. In addition, proceeds from the narcotics trade were presented as originating from the ostensibly legal business activities. Since mid-2004, the alleged criminal proceeds have been channeled to trust companies and corporations in several countries including the United Arab Emirates, Liechtenstein, Montenegro and Switzerland. According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), the suspect made it seem on paper as if he did not control the cash flow, but it is believed that he was secretly pulling the strings of the entire operation. The monies were used to invest in companies and (im)movable property, among others. The Public Prosecution Service and the 'Combiteam' are still investigating the role played by the facilitators.

Crime should not payIn the Netherlands, searches were conducted in three commercial premises in Rosmalen, municipality of Wijchen and municipality of Renkum and residences in Rosmalen, municipality of Wijchen, municipality of Zevenaar, municipality of Heusden (4). During the searches, three residences, watches and 80 000 Euros in cash were seized in addition to administrative files. In Montenegro, two businesses were searched and immovable property estimated at 7 000 000 Euros was seized. In Switzerland and Liechtenstein, a total of four businesses were searched. In Spain, one residence was searched. This residence will be seized, in addition to a boat.  Bank balances in the Netherlands, Montenegro, Switzerland and Liechtenstein have all been seized.

PartnershipThe 'Combiteam' is a partnership between the police and the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD).  The Combiteam targets the combination of organized crime and money laundering through financial structures. Using proceeds of crime to live the high life, or using it to make investments, is the goal of a money laundering operation. This requires facilitators such as financial service providers and trust companies. But a facilitator could also be a money courier. Or a straw  puppet. This type of crime damages the integrity of institutions, on the edge between underworld and overworld. The 'Combiteam' is led by the Landelijk Parket, the office within the Public Prosecution Service that deals with international crime, and the Functioneel Parket, the office specializing in environmental, economic and fraud cases. The Combiteam also conducts investigations into criminals who have earned a lot of money and whose fortunes are difficult to trace due to complicated financial structures.

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