– None of us can remember that we have been close to such large seizures in the past, says Knut Lutro, head of the section for covert investigations in the Oslo police district to news. 17 people have been charged with serious money laundering after the Oslo police district uncovered a network they believe has been exporting large amounts of cash. Of the total of NOK 70 million that have been taken, NOK 22 million have been seized in Norway. The police believe the money originates from criminal activities. – We are talking about a large network that appears to be well organised. There is a lot of money in circulation, says Lutro. GOING AFTER THE MONEY: Knut Lutro, head of the section for covert investigations in the Oslo police district. Photo: Pål Sveinung Larsen / news Secret money deposit According to the police, a detached house in the north of Oslo has served as a deposit for the network. The police believe they can document over 120 handovers of cash from various couriers to the depot during the past few months. According to the police, the deliveries are worth a few hundred thousand kroner each time. The money is said to have been temporarily stored at the depot before being transported by lorry to Turkey. Several million found at the accused’s home When the police raided the depot, they found over 5 million in cash. – We firmly believe that they are from criminal activities. Most likely, the money was collected from criminal groups. That is why they are charged with serious money laundering, says Lutro. The man who rented the house has been charged with laundering NOK 38 million. 22 million have been seized, while the police believe that digital traces in chat logs and other evidence indicate that the man has had access to far more millions. The man pleads not guilty and has explained that the money found in the house is his. – They come from family, from abroad, and he has explained that in detail in questioning, says the man’s defender, Omar Tashakori. The accused man denies that the money comes from criminal activity. – There are handovers in connection with hawala activities. It is a money transfer system where you transfer cash. It is based on trust and is transferred to countries where it is difficult or impossible to transfer money via banking systems. – Where was this money going? – It was going to family and others in Turkey and Syria. SHIPPED IN BAGS: This is how the money is supposed to have been transported on the lorries. Photo: The police Most likely behind the scenes abroad Among those charged in Norway, most are couriers who are said to have collected money and delivered it to the depository, while others are said to have had a more organizational role. – There is every reason to believe that there is a behind-the-scenes apparatus abroad, says Lutro. The police believe the network primarily consists of people with connections to Turkey and Syria. The investigation is a collaboration between the Oslo police district, other police districts, the customs service and police authorities in several European countries. – This is a targeted and long-term effort where we go after the money, i.e. profit from criminal offences. Crime should not pay, says Lutro. Pleads guilty Farid Bouras is defending one of the others who is still in custody and who the police also believe must have had an organizing role. – He pleads guilty, but believes there is nothing that links him to a role as an organiser. The case should proceed as a confession case, says Bouras to news. SEIZURE: The money that has been seized was probably going to Turkey or Syria. Photo: Police Hiding in concrete cars news wrote on Wednesday last week that five people have been charged with having smuggled NOK 40 million in cash. The money was hidden in a concrete truck and other trucks. The case started with the Oslo police spying on one of the main suspects in their case. On 20 February, they followed the man as he drove from Norway to Sweden. He stopped at a Swedish truck company where he met another man. Now the Oslo police confirm that it was information from Norway that led to the giant seizure in Sweden, where five men are awaiting sentencing in the case. All were charged with serious money laundering and pleaded not guilty during the trial, which was recently concluded. In addition, German police found almost 9 million Norwegian and Swedish kroner in a truck they stopped in February this year. The truck was transporting salmon from Norway to Turkey.
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The police campaigned against a secret money depository in Oslo – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
