An international criminal group suspected of money laundering has been uncovered in Poland. Investigators say its members carried out financial operations totaling more than 337 million zlotys, about 77 million euros. Nine people were detained in Warsaw, including one Belarusian citizen and eight Ukrainian citizens. The case was reported by the Warmian-Masurian Border Guard of Poland.
According to investigators, the group operated in five Polish cities: Warsaw, Lublin, Wrocław, Katowice and Gdańsk. Its members laundered money obtained through crime, including fraud linked to investment platforms and cryptocurrency investments.
The investigation says the group was led by a 34-year-old Ukrainian citizen. He distributed tasks, gave instructions and made key decisions on obtaining cash and moving it in Poland and abroad. Currency exchange offices and fictitious gold purchase transactions were used to launder the money. The operations exceeded 337 million zlotys in total.
The operation was conducted by officers of the Polish Border Guard together with the Central Cybercrime Bureau and the Internal Security Agency. Among the nine detainees are five men and three women from Ukraine, as well as a citizen of Belarus.
Officers searched homes, offices and currency exchange points. They confiscated gold and cash totaling more than one million zlotys, over 230 thousand euros, as well as computers and telephones.
By court decision, six of the detainees were arrested for three months and another for two months. For the remaining two, property bail, police supervision and a ban on leaving Poland were applied. The detainees face up to 15 years of imprisonment. The investigation is being conducted under the supervision of the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Łódź.