Four arrested in Puerto Real for laundering 140,000 euros from drug trafficking
The National Police dismantled a family-based money laundering network linked to drug trafficking in Puerto Real. Assets worth 261,925 euros were frozen.
Operation Odin dismantles family money laundering network in Puerto Real
The National Police arrested four people in Puerto Real as part of Operation Odin, according to diariodecadiz.es, in an investigation focused on laundering assets from drug trafficking. Three of those arrested face charges for alleged money laundering and membership of a criminal group; a fourth was investigated for his participation as a straw man.
The operational phase culminated on 26 May with the arrests and judicial freezing of a property, three vehicles and 16 bank accounts. The assets uncovered during the investigation amount to 261,925 euros.
Family as the centre of the scheme
The organisation was allegedly led by a 37-year-old man who had reportedly used several members of his family circle to carry out the illicit activity. Three of the four arrested belonged to the same family unit.
The network operated in a coordinated manner and introduced funds of illicit origin into the legal economic circuit through mechanisms of concealment and transformation, subsequently converting them into moveable and immoveable assets with an appearance of legality. To do this they carried out staggered deposits and payments aimed at consolidating the acquisition of different assets.
Cash movements without justification
The investigation was carried out by agents from the Economic and Fiscal Crime Unit (UDEF) of El Puerto de Santa María–Puerto Real, within the Southern Plan and the Tartesos Plan. It began in October and was directed by the Civil and Instruction Section of the Court of First Instance of Puerto Real, Plaza nº 2.
Analysis of the 16 bank accounts revealed a continuous pattern of cash deposits, staggered transfers and economic movements without sufficient justification or traceability. During the investigated period, cash deposits totalling 140,000 euros were recorded, a figure incompatible with the economic capacity declared by those involved and with the high standard of living observed.
Seizure of high-end vehicles and frozen accounts
Under judicial authority, a high-end vehicle, two motorcycles, a property were seized and 16 bank accounts linked to those investigated were frozen.
Two of those arrested were released with an obligation to appear before the judicial authorities. The two main suspects were brought before the Court of First Instance of Puerto Real, Plaza nº 2, which ordered their release on bail and the obligation to appear periodically.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)