Milano, international criminal conspiracy: 4 arrests and seizures for over 17 million euros.

The financiers of the Provincial Command of Milano and of the Central Service for the Investigation of Organised Crime of the Guardia di Finanza, on delegation of this Office - DDA are executing arrest warrants for suspects, searches, and seizures of individuals under investigation for criminal association and money laundering.

The investigative activity developed by the Economic and Financial Police Unit of Milano and by the SCICO of Rome, in close collaboration with the French National Gendarmerie — Marseille Analysis and Research Section, through the General Command — TI Information Coordination and International Relations Department, through the coordination of the National Anti-Mafia Directorate, which acted as a guide for the Italian and French judicial authorities, Marseille Prosecutor's Office, for sharing investigative developments, of Eurojust and Europol and with the support of the @ON Network funded by the EU Commission, allowed to Identify a large network of Syrian nationals involved in laundering the proceeds of international drug trafficking, operating in both Italy and France.

The evolution of the investigations, initially started on Italian soil, required the establishment of a special Joint Investigation Team with the French Gendarmerie - Marseille Research Section, coordinated by the "Juridictiorzs interrégionale spécialisées (JIRS) Marseille", aimed atIdentifying individuals involved in drug trafficking and conducting targeted investigative activities into the operations of the suspects in France.

The investigations have identified a new method of transferring illicit proceeds. In particular, The suspects, after having collected the money from drug trafficking, largely carried out in France and quantified at over 17 million euros in approximately 10 months of investigation, proceeded to transport it, using vehicles equipped with double bottoms, to a storage point located in the province of Alessandria.

Then, With the complicity of individuals operating in the precious metal smelting and processing sector located between Piedmont and Lombardy, the money was converted into gold bars and sheets of corresponding value.

This modus operandi was aimed at reducing the size and facilitating the concealment of valuables, to better allow their subsequent transport to foreign territories (Kosovo, North Macedonia, Türkiye and Morocco).

The above represents a peculiar and innovative element of the investigation, given that it is the first time that investigations have allowed us to reconstruct the movement of large financial flows originating from drug trafficking, carried out in foreign territory, and the subsequent conversion into gold material which represents, today more than ever, a safe haven and of growing value, testifying how Criminal organizations are constantly updated in order to identify the best strategies to overcome any checks carried out by the police forces.

During the investigation, several seizures were made against the criminal gang, both in Italy and France. In fact, on separate occasions they have been identified Milano and Montpellier some transfers of money from drug trafficking, leading to the seizure of 55 kg of gold bars produced at Italian foundries and over 3 million euros in cash, for a total value of approximately 9 million euros, were laundered.

This Office has therefore ordered the arrest of 4 individuals on suspicion of crime, as well as searches of the other suspects and of three commercial activities of Milano and Alessandria, as well as the emergency precautionary seizure of the proceeds of money laundering crimes totaling over 17 million euros.

simultaneously, A European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is being executed in the province of Piacenza against a suspect in the parallel French investigation.

All activities are part of a Joint Action Day and will also involve the National Gendarmerie of Marseille. in the execution of other precautionary measures against further suspects involved in collecting the proceeds of drug trafficking on French soil.