Police expose illegal banking group that laundered over 36 bln rubles - Interior Ministry
MOSCOW. July 8 (Interfax) - The operations of a criminal group that laundered over 36 billion rubles have been stopped, Interfax was told at the Interior Ministry press center.
"Officers from the Interior Ministry's Main Department for Economic Security and the Investigative Department together with Rosfinmonitoring have conducted a large-scale effort that resulted in stopping the operations of one of the biggest groups engaging in illegal banking. Early estimates indicate that over 36 billion rubles were diverted to shadow turnover projects," a press officer said.
He said that the group had operated for over five years in the Moscow region and other parts of Russia. Operative and investigative efforts helped to establish its members, their hierarchy and cashing schemes.
"The group was led by a 42-year-old man born in Mytishchi, Moscow region, and involved over 400 people. To carry out their schemes the members of the group used several commercial banks and over 100 Russian and foreign companies," the officer said.
The non-cash funds of customers were transferred to current accounts of fly-by-night companies opened with friendly banks and later cashed and transferred to accounts in Baltic States and Cyprus. The money was laundered through the acquisition of real estate. The suspects charged 2% commission for their services.
"Early estimates indicate that the illegal operations generated over 575 million rubles in income. The Interior Ministry Investigative Department launched a criminal case charging the suspects with forming a criminal community and illegal banking in relation to these facts," the officer said.
Seven leaders and active members of the criminal group were detained. The investigation and operative efforts are continuing.