Europol: Members of money laundering scheme exploiting Ukrainian women arrested in Spain

An international operation, led with the support of EU agency Europol and Interpol and targeting a money laundering scheme, has resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects in Spain. The disrupted criminal network systematically exploited vulnerable Ukrainian women to open bank accounts, which were used in gaming platforms and to transfer illicit profits.

Authorities estimate that the criminal organisation made a profit of €4.75 million using this method. Spanish authorities, in close cooperation with Ukrainian police, identified 55 victims, seized 88 mobile phones, 20 computers, 500 SIM cards, 4 vehicles and 22 bots, more than €77,000 in cash, and €200,000 in cryptocurrency, and blocked 153 bank accounts in 11 countries.

The investigation, which focused on several crime areas including trafficking in human beings, money laundering and fraud, spanned two years. It culminated in a coordinated action day in June 2025 in Spain and Ukraine.

“Authorities believe that the criminal network, composed of Ukrainian nationals, initially used the personal data of Spanish citizens to open bank accounts. They later changed their approach and began recruiting Ukrainian women who were granted temporary protection status in Spain, exploiting them to open bank accounts to transfer illicit proceeds,” Europol said in a press release.

According to Spanish investigators, the victims were in extremely vulnerable situations in areas heavily impacted by the war in Ukraine and were completely under the control of the suspects. Members of the criminal network sent the women to Spain, accompanied them to open bank accounts and returned them to Ukraine shortly afterwards.

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Press release