- Buy Crypto
- Markets
Futures- Spot
- Copy Trade
- Earn
- More
Crypto Crime Ring Busted: 17 Arrested in $23 Million Laundering Scheme
By: bitdegree|2025/05/15 17:30:08
0
Share
Ace quick missions & earn crypto rewards while gaining real-world Web3 skills. Participate Now ! Authorities in Europe have arrested 17 people involved in an illegal money-moving network that helped other criminal groups transfer over €21 million (about $23.5 million) using cryptocurrency. The group operated mainly in Spain, with links to Austria and Belgium, and supported clients involved in drug smuggling and human trafficking , according to a May 14 report from Europol . Instead of going through traditional banks, the network used a system similar to hawala—an informal way to send money that relies on personal trust rather than official records. In this case, crypto was used to carry out the transfers . Did you know? Subscribe - We publish new crypto explainer videos every week! What is Ripple? Beginner-Friendly XRP Explainer (Animated) SUBSCRIBE Investigators said the group also advertised these services on social media , which presented them as normal remittance options. The arrests, carried out in January 2025, followed a joint operation led by Spanish authorities with help from Belgium and Austria. Europol supported the investigation, and over 250 officers were involved in the raids. Most of the suspects were from China or Syria and targeted clients from similar backgrounds. Fifteen people were arrested in Spain, one in Austria, and one in Belgium. So far, 15 of them have been placed in custody while the investigation continues. Police seized €4.5 million (around $5 million) worth of items during the operation. This included 18 cars, four shotguns, and various electronics. About €183,000 (roughly $205,000) in cryptocurrency was taken, along with €421,000 (around $471,000) in cash from 77 linked bank accounts. Officers also collected high-value goods such as designer bags, watches, and cigars worth €876,000 (close to $980,000). Meanwhile, on May 8, the US Department of Justice sentenced Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa of Virginia to over 30 years in prison. What led to the sentencing? Read the full story .
You may also like
Particle Founder: The entrepreneurial insights I have gained the most from in the past year
Stop lean startup, stop lightning entrepreneurship, and think carefully about what your product aspirations are.
Huang Renxun's latest podcast transcript: The future of Nvidia, the development of embodied intelligence and agents, the explosion of inference demand, and the public relations crisis of artificial intelligence
The competition in the future is not just about whose model is larger or whose computing power is stronger, but also about who understands the industry better, who can embed AI more deeply into real processes, and who can organize these capabilities into a runnable and scalable system.
OKX Ventures Research Report: AI Agent Economic Infrastructure Research Report (Part 1)
The existing infrastructure is hostile to the Agent economy. Agents can think and act independently at the "capability level," but at the "economic level," they are still locked into infrastructure designed for humans.
The migration of settlement rights: B18 and the institutional starting point of on-chain banks
In the traditional system, banks decide the settlement; in the on-chain system, code begins to take over this responsibility.
From Tencent and Circle: Looking at the Simple and Difficult Questions of Investment
The AI narrative continues to ferment, but the recent performance of related stocks varies, with some in the midst of summer and others as if in winter.
The second half of stablecoins no longer belongs to the crypto circle
What Coinbase doesn't want, Mastercard is eager to buy.
Cursor "Shell" Kimi Controversy Reversed: From Copyright Infringement Allegations to Authorized Collaboration, China's Open Source Model Once Again Becomes a Global AI Foundation
Cursor was accused of being based on Kimi K2.5, which sparked controversy, and was later confirmed to be compliant through Fireworks AI due diligence.
The Real Reason Tokens Don't Sell: 90% of Crypto Projects Overlook Investor Relations
Provide an Investor Relations Best Practices Guide for Crypto Projects.
Is the income of pump.fun real, earning a million dollars a day despite the market downturn?
If it can really earn this much, what is the reason for the low price of $PUMP?
The real reason why tokens are not selling: 90% of crypto projects neglect investor relations
Investor Relations Practice Guide for Cryptocurrency Projects.
Who is the true winner of the "Tokenization" narrative?
Virtually everyone benefits, but the reason for the benefit, the timing, and the underlying logic are completely different.
Moss: The Era of AI-Traded by Anyone | Project Introduction
AI Trading Agent is rapidly growing its infrastructure.
Chip Smuggling Case Exposes Regulatory Loophole | Rewire News Evening Update
AI chips have become a strategic asset more sensitive than missiles
How a Structured AI Crypto Trading Bot Won at the WEEX Hackathon
Ritmex demonstrates how disciplined risk control and structured signals can make an AI crypto trading bot more stable and reliable on WEEX, highlighting the importance of combining execution discipline with scalable AI trading systems.
Old Indicator Fails, Three Major New Signals Emerge: BTC True Bottom May Still Be Below $60K
When the grocery shopping auntie on the subway, or Tony the hairdresser, start asking you about BTC, crypto, and cryptocurrency investments, selling immediately will be the only best option.
Meeting OpenClaw Founder at a Hackathon: What Else Can Lobsters Do?
Imperial College London MetaGame: AI Agent × Web3 Landing Three Major Directions.
Huang Renxun's Latest Podcast Transcript: NVIDIA's Future, Embodied Intelligence and Agent Development, Soaring Demand for Inferencing, and AI's PR Crisis
The future of competition is not only about whose model is bigger, whose computing power is stronger, but also about who understands the industry better, who can more deeply integrate AI into real processes, and who can organize these capabilities into a set of executable, scalable systems
How a Structured AI Crypto Trading Bot Won at the WEEX Hackathon
Crypto_Trade shows how structured inputs and controlled adaptability can build a more stable and reliable AI crypto trading bot within the WEEX AI Trading Hackathon, highlighting a practical path toward scalable AI trading systems.
Particle Founder: The entrepreneurial insights I have gained the most from in the past year
Stop lean startup, stop lightning entrepreneurship, and think carefully about what your product aspirations are.
Huang Renxun's latest podcast transcript: The future of Nvidia, the development of embodied intelligence and agents, the explosion of inference demand, and the public relations crisis of artificial intelligence
The competition in the future is not just about whose model is larger or whose computing power is stronger, but also about who understands the industry better, who can embed AI more deeply into real processes, and who can organize these capabilities into a runnable and scalable system.
OKX Ventures Research Report: AI Agent Economic Infrastructure Research Report (Part 1)
The existing infrastructure is hostile to the Agent economy. Agents can think and act independently at the "capability level," but at the "economic level," they are still locked into infrastructure designed for humans.
The migration of settlement rights: B18 and the institutional starting point of on-chain banks
In the traditional system, banks decide the settlement; in the on-chain system, code begins to take over this responsibility.
From Tencent and Circle: Looking at the Simple and Difficult Questions of Investment
The AI narrative continues to ferment, but the recent performance of related stocks varies, with some in the midst of summer and others as if in winter.
The second half of stablecoins no longer belongs to the crypto circle
What Coinbase doesn't want, Mastercard is eager to buy.
App