Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority co-published a joint press release on a cross-agency operation against international money laundering carried out under the direction of the Frankfurt an der Oder public prosecutor. The operation involved searches at more than 20 residential and business addresses in Brandenburg, Berlin and Saxony and targeted an alleged network of shell companies and bank accounts used to channel illicit funds into the legal economy. The release says the action also led to more than 500 account freezes. A 41-year-old main suspect from Brandenburg, for whom an arrest warrant had already been obtained, was arrested. He and five alleged accomplices are accused of creating a network of sham companies and accounts through which organized crime could disguise funds worth millions from illegal sources and move them into the legitimate economic cycle. During the searches, authorities seized data storage devices, vehicles, assets and business records. The investigation was led by the Brandenburg State Criminal Police Office in close cooperation with customs investigators, tax investigators from the Potsdam and Cottbus tax offices, the Financial Intelligence Unit and BaFin.
BaFin2026-04-16
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority joins anti money laundering raids targeting shell company network with over 500 account freezes
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority co-published a joint release on raids across Brandenburg, Berlin and Saxony targeting an alleged international money laundering network built around shell companies and linked accounts. The operation included more than 20 searches, more than 500 account freezes and the arrest of the main suspect. Authorities also seized data carriers, vehicles, assets and business records.