Authorities in France and Romania have carried out a coordinated crackdown on a large-scale money laundering network suspected of processing more than €306 million in illicit proceeds linked primarily to drug trafficking and other criminal activities. The operation, supported by Eurojust through a joint investigation framework, led to the arrest of 13 individuals and the seizure of cash and high-value assets following years of cross-border investigation.

The criminal group, active between 2018 and 2024, is believed to have consisted of dozens of members operating across both countries. Investigators found that the network developed a complex laundering system built around the misuse of legitimate business structures. Members reportedly took control of multiple companies in France, using them to channel substantial sums of illegal income into accounts under their control. By creating artificial financial flows between these entities—often supported by falsified invoices for non-existent services—the group was able to disguise the origin of funds while simultaneously reducing declared taxable income.

In Romania, part of the laundered proceeds was reinvested in real estate assets across the country. To avoid detection, properties were frequently registered under the names of associates or intermediaries, obscuring the true ownership and complicating efforts to trace the financial flows back to the core criminal network.

To address the cross-border nature of the scheme, Eurojust facilitated the creation of a joint investigation team, enabling authorities in both jurisdictions to share evidence, coordinate strategy and conduct synchronized enforcement actions. This cooperation culminated in a joint operational day on 3 February, coordinated from The Hague, during which law enforcement agencies executed 24 searches across France and Romania.

In addition to the arrests, authorities seized more than €400,000 in cash, along with jewellery, luxury watches and electronic devices believed to be linked to the laundering activities. The scale and sophistication of the operation underscore the increasing reliance of organised crime groups on corporate structures and international financial channels to conceal illicit profits.

Officials involved in the case highlighted the importance of sustained international cooperation in tackling complex financial crime networks, particularly those operating across multiple jurisdictions. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to analyse seized materials and identify additional individuals potentially connected to the scheme.