Dozens of searches were carried out in a number of localities by officers of the Crime, Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Investigation Division in cooperation with prosecutors in a money laundering case. The searches targeted administrators and employees of a series of economic entities suspected of involvement in a complex financial fraud scheme, IPN reports.

The investigation revealed that a number of individuals and legal entities were involved in a fraudulent network of conversion and transfer of funds and grain products coming from dubious sources. The purpose of the illicit activity was to legalize particular operations.

Through cash withdrawals from ATMs and banks, over 57 million lei was liquefied last year.

According to the authorities, the money was withdrawn from business card accounts opened by new companies to facilitate these illegal transactions. The withdrawals were made by the administrator of one of these companies, who coordinated the entire criminal activity.

During the searches, there were seized objects and evidence relevant to the investigation. These include mobile phones, laptops, dozens of bank cards issued in the name of third parties, a compressed gas gun, multiple documents used by the suspects in their illegal activities.

The authorities are in the process of establishing all the persons involved and are assessing the damage caused. The investigation is to reveal the extent of the network and determine the legal measures that will be taken next.