Franco-Romanian Operation Dismantles €306 Million Money Laundering Network, 13 Arrested

International Crackdown on Financial Crime

A significant international law enforcement operation has led to the arrest of 13 suspects in France and Romania, dismantling a sophisticated criminal network accused of laundering at least €306 million. The illicit funds were reportedly derived from drug trafficking and other criminal activities. The arrests followed a coordinated investigation spanning several years, involving French and Romanian judicial and police authorities, with crucial support from Eurojust and Europol. The criminal group is believed to have operated between 2018 and 2024.

Coordinated Investigation Efforts

The investigation culminated in a joint action day on February 3, 2026, which was coordinated from Eurojust's premises in The Hague. Eurojust played a pivotal role by establishing and funding a joint investigation team (JIT), facilitating the exchange of evidence and enabling joint action between the French and Romanian authorities. The French National Prosecutor's Office Against Organised Crime (PNACO) and the Financial Investigation Unit (BRIF) of the Prefecture de Police were involved on the French side, while in Romania, the Cluj-Napoca Organized Crime Fighting Brigade and DIICOT prosecutors participated.

Network's Modus Operandi

The criminal network, reportedly consisting of dozens of members, employed an intricate scheme to launder vast sums of money. Their methods included:

• Establishing and taking over multiple legal entities in France to channel large sums into their bank accounts.
• Creating a financial circuit involving the issuance of false invoices for services between legal entities, thereby reducing the taxable income of those companies.
• Investing a portion of the illicit profits in real estate across Romania, specifically in cities such as Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest, and Satu Mare.
• Hiding the true identities of beneficiaries by making investments in the names of others within their entourage.

Since 2018, four Romanian citizens were identified as having created legal entities in France to disguise over €300 million from illegal activities.

Arrests and Seizures

During the coordinated action, 13 suspects were arrested. Authorities conducted 24 house searches across France and Romania, leading to significant seizures. Items confiscated included over €400,000 in cash, along with jewelry, luxury watches, mobile phones, documents, and suspicious banknotes. The French national prosecutor's office has announced the indictment of four individuals in Paris, with plans for the extradition of another four to Romania.