Cross -border campaign day against customs fraud: money laundering and Hawala Banking under control

Cross -border campaign day against customs fraud: money laundering and Hawala Banking under control

On April 26, 2024, a cross-border campaign day to combat illegal financial flows took place, which was coordinated by the LKA North Rhine-Westphalia, the customs and the federal police. The Haifins project, funded by the international security fund of the European Commission, devoted itself to the investigation of cash and valuables that may be connected to Hawala Banking. The Hawala Financial System is an informal transfer system without government control that is often used for money laundering and the financing of criminal activities.

The security authorities in Germany and Belgium carried out intensive controls at different locations, including airports such as Frankfurt am Main, Düsseldorf and Brussels, as well as motorways such as the A40 and Aachen. The controls were ensured by considerable cash, including more than 10,000 euros in a vehicle on the A40 and around 161,000 euros in the hand luggage of a traveler at Frankfurt Airport. In total, cash with almost 394,000 euros were secured.

The project in which 18 authorities are involved is used to support financial investigations in the field of underground banking. Through targeted controls and international cooperation, new forms of the crime inspection can be uncovered and organized perpetrators can be smashed. The day of action to combat illegal financial flows shows the importance of cross -border cooperation and the use of experts to act against money laundering and criminal financial flows.