French-Maghreb Money Laundering Ring Busted, Linked to Organized Crime

In a press release, the Marseille public prosecutor stated that companies in Aix-en-Provence (particularly in the construction sector) but also "personalities from the narco-crime and Corsican-Marseille organized crime" are involved in this case of the Specialized Inter-Regional Jurisdiction (JIRS). These suspects "use this system set up to justify part of their resources, have their legal bail paid or acquire vehicles in cash," she specified.

The investigators seized eight credit balances for a total of more than 450,000 euros, claims registered on two life insurance contracts "forming a total of 272,523.28 euros", 90,305 euros in cash, a Tucson (Hyundai) worth 15,500 euros, and a stock of new hi-fi equipment worth 86,400 euros.

The investigating judge ordered the indictment of the five suspects for money laundering in an organized gang through assistance, money laundering in an organized gang through fraudulent justification, concealed work in an organized gang, complicity in bankruptcy, forgery and use of forgeries, complicity in abuse of corporate assets. Two of them were placed in pre-trial detention.