Money laundering via designer handbags: 13 Chinese nationals and one Dane arrested in Copenhagen
14 people have been charged with laundering over 100 million kroner and VAT fraud totalling 24 million kroner. Two of the accused were employed at a luxury goods shop in central Copenhagen.
14 arrested in major money-laundering operation on Zealand
Thirteen Chinese nationals residing in Denmark and one Dane were arrested on Wednesday and charged with laundering a combined total of over 100 million kroner as well as VAT fraud worth 24 million kroner, according to TV 2 Nyheder. The charges cover a period from July 2016 to August 2026.
The operation was conducted by the National Unit for Serious Crime (NSK) and took place at multiple addresses on Zealand, primarily in the Copenhagen metropolitan area.
Designer handbags used to obscure origins of money
Police suspect that the money laundering occurred partly through the purchase and resale of luxury goods.
– These individuals purchased luxury goods – including some designer handbags – and subsequently these handbags were sold to individuals and companies both within and outside Denmark, says police inspector Trine Møller from NSK to Ritzau.
Møller emphasises that the trade was conducted, in the police's view, to conceal the origins of the money. – We do not believe that legal money was used to purchase these goods, she says.
Two accused were employed at luxury goods shop
Two of those arrested were, according to police, employed at a "luxury goods shop in central Copenhagen". Police have not yet wished to disclose which shop is in question.
The two shop employees are believed to have issued invoices with false information in connection with sales of goods. In this way, purchasers of luxury goods are believed to have unlawfully obtained VAT refunds, which forms the basis for the charge of VAT fraud.
One year of investigation behind the arrests
The operation is the result of approximately one year of investigation, which was initiated following notifications from the Money Laundering Secretariat.
– We have been conducting an ongoing, forward-looking investigation against this network for approximately one year, says Trine Møller.
During the operation, police secured evidence and seized "a substantial amount of cash". The arrested individuals are aged between 29 and 54.
Constitutional hearing on Thursday with closed doors
11 of those arrested will be brought before the Copenhagen District Court on Thursday at 9 o'clock for a constitutional hearing. The prosecutor will request that the doors be closed to keep information about the ongoing investigation confidential. It has not been disclosed in advance how the accused respond to the charges.
Source: TV 2 Nyheder