Money, money. Dirty money.

Money. Hard currency. Filthy lucre. It’s the international language. They say money makes the world go round. Well, it certainly makes the underworld go round. At the end of the day, for practically every crime group, this is what it’s all about. We see how quickly it accumulates when the bandits do it well. And how quickly it is lost, when they get it wrong. And that’s what’s happening here. The Mob Reporter here with news of three large dirty money seizures that caught my eye. They’re not the biggest I’ve seen by any means. But they sure are interesting. Let me tell you about them.

The first was revealed in Spain. This one was part of an international op tackling a large-scale narco outfit running between South America and Europe. Their biggest problem was handling all the cash. As they desperately tried to launder it, the complex financial transactions triggered red flags in several countries. Authorities estimate they were moving at least 100 million euros in the last six months alone, but it was all still being traced. When officers moved in — in Brazil, Belgium, Dubai and Spain, authorities arrested 45 people and seized 167 properties, 12 million euros in cash and 70 high-end vehicles. In Malaga, on Spain’s beautiful Costa del Sol, when officers with the Policía Nacional police raided a home and found this — suitcases stuffed, and I mean stuffed, with cash. Authorities didn’t release a final tally, but I’m assured it’s impressive.

A cash stash was also found in Australia this week. It was smaller, but very tidy. A white Mercedes was pulled over on Dec. 1, 2020, by New South Wales Police in Sydney, Australia’s largest city. Inside, officers found a sports bag and a garbage back stuffed with cash. Two men were arrested. All told, the neatly bundled stash totaled $800,000 Australian dollars. That’s worth about US$600,000 US dollars. The traffic stop and arrests were by officers with Strike Force Raptor, a special high-impact police taskforce usually targeting 1% outlaw motorcycle clubs. This scene passes as cash ASMR… just listen…

The last dirty money stash house was busted in Poland. Police in Poznań moved in to arrest nine people in a series of search warrants and stumbled upon a significant money stash house. This apartment was brimming with cash — in suitcases, boxes, plastic bags, sports bags, everywhere. All told, there were 13 million zlotys — that’s more than US$3.5million. Also seized were motorcycles, cars, real estate and property.

World - MR.