Russian criminal gang laundering dirty money linked to the Magnitsky case is uncovered in Spain

Europol reported that the Spanish authorities have taken action against a criminal group laundering dirty money linked to the Magnitsky case, a EUR 219 million corruption case in Russia.
 

With the support of Europol and Eurojust, Spanish investigators found out that a group of Russian citizens was behind it. They had little or no ties to Spain, and were also the owners of a number of shell companies that did not conduct real business activities.

The group laundered money through bank accounts in Europe. They either sent them to their own accounts in Spain, or to Spanish real estate agencies that had close ties with the Russian community. After that, they would buy real estate on behalf of potential clients.

One of the perpetrators was detained in the Canary Islands. He turned out to be central to this scheme. His name is not disclosed.

Europol also added that as of December 14, 2022, 75 real estate properties with a total value of 25 million euros were confiscated in Spain.

Reference: The Magnitsky list is a list of people who are responsible for the death in detention and ill-treatment of tax lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. They are also responsible for other violations of human rights in the Russian Federation and for a series of embezzlement of funds from the new budget under the guise of tax refunds. They were exposed by a group of lawyers and auditors, including Magnitsky.

On May 31, 2021, Belgium seized 400,000 euros, which the participants in the Magnitsky money laundering case received from the sale of an apartment in Antwerp, and Latvia confiscated an apartment in Riga, which was purchased by a citizen of the Russian Federation.