Detained for Laundering €850,000 from Organized Fraud Network
A man and a woman were apprehended by the Judiciary Police (PJ) at Lisbon Airport, as part of a criminal group that included two suspects already detained in November. This transnational network is involved in sophisticated CEO fraud schemes, where members impersonate company executives to demand monetary transfers.
Details of the Scam
In this investigation into 'CEO Frauds', the PJ had previously arrested two Portuguese individuals, aged 21 and 25, in November of last year. They were suspected of laundering 1.5 million euros. The latest arrests on Wednesday involved a 30-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, both foreign nationals, linked to frauds totaling 850,000 euros. All are part of the same criminal organization.
Role of the Detained Suspects
The two individuals detained by the PJ's Northern Directorate served as operational members of the transnational criminal group. They used bank accounts opened under false identities and companies they created to circulate funds from illicit sources, primarily derived from cybercrimes. This process allowed them to 'launder' the money, making it appear legitimate before it returned to the network's leaders. In exchange, the operatives received commissions of thousands of euros.
Charges and Legal Proceedings
The detained man and woman are strongly implicated in crimes including criminal association, qualified fraud, document forgery, and money laundering. They are scheduled for their first judicial interrogation in Matosinhos.
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