Money laundering / January-August, cases for investigation increase, but asset seizures fall 82%

2025-12-02 12:41:22, Aktualitet CNA

Money laundering / January-August, cases for investigation increase, but asset

The number of cases referred for the criminal offense of "Money Laundering" has reached 311 cases for the months of January-August 2025, the highest level in the last 5 years, marking an increase of 14% compared to the same period last year.

However, the value of the seized money has suffered a significant decrease, marking the seizure of 9.4 million euros for January-August 2025, compared to 53.9 million euros seized in the same period last year. A decrease of about 82%.

The data has been made public in the monthly statistical reports of the Ministry of Interior.

Referring to data from the statistical reports of the Ministry of Interior, for the months of January-August 2025, the highest level of the criminal offense "Money Laundering (N.287)" was recorded with 311 cases referred by institutions.

Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of cases referred has increased by 38 offenses or about 14%. This is the highest number of cases referred for investigation by institutions in the last 5 years.

But despite the increase in referred cases, data from the Ministry of Interior shows that the value of money seized for this criminal offense has decreased significantly.

For the months of January-August 2025, seizures were worth 9.4 million euros, compared to 53.9 million euros that were seized in the same period in 2024. For the period of January-August 2025, seizures in value decreased by about 82%.

For the periods January-August of 2021-2025, seizures for criminal offenses of the category 'Money Laundering (N.287), had the highest level in June 2024 with 52,700,000 euros. For the 8-month period of 5 years, the highest number of referred cases was recorded in June 2025 with 56 cases.

Meanwhile, according to the annual report of the Ministry of Interior, during 2024 the value of assets seized for the criminal offense of money laundering was 27,636,788 euros and the value of assets confiscated under the anti-mafia law was 4,093,091 euros of movable and immovable property.

Criminal offense "Money Laundering (N.287)"

Laundering of the proceeds of crime or criminal activity (N.287) – Laundering of the proceeds of crime or criminal activity, through:

a) the exchange or transfer of property, with the intention of concealing or covering up its illicit origin, knowing that such property is the proceeds of a criminal offence or criminal activity;

b) the concealment or disguise of the true nature, source, location, disposition, transfer, ownership or rights with respect to property, knowing that such property is the proceeds of a criminal offence or criminal activity;

c) acquiring ownership, possession or use of property, knowing at the time of receipt that such property is the proceeds of a criminal offence or criminal activity;

ç) carrying out financial operations or fragmented transactions to avoid reporting, according to the legislation on the prevention of money laundering;

d) investing money or objects in economic or financial activities, knowing that they are the products of a criminal offense or activity. /Monitor