this post was submitted on 11 May 2025
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105
Chinese network laundered €57.5 million via fake shops in Portugal (euroweeklynews.com)
submitted 4 weeks ago by Hotznplotzn@lemmy.sdf.org to c/europe@feddit.org
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Archived

Four suspects of Chinese nationality, three men and one woman aged between 25 and 40, were arrested during the recent operation. All four were living in Portugal. Three of the suspects have been remanded in custody. The fourth, a woman, has been released under strict conditions, including a ban on contact with the other defendants and mandatory weekly check-ins with authorities.

[...]

In total, 21 individuals and companies have been named defendants in the case. The arrests were made following a wide-reaching investigation, including 25 house and business searches across several northern municipalities.

[...]

Police seized over €1.5 million in cash, four luxury vehicles, 25 bank accounts, and many documents and computer equipment. Items linked to tax fraud and document forgery were also recovered during the raids. According to the PJ, the operation involved 110 officers and was supported by ASAE, Portugal’s Food and Economic Security Authority.

Authorities believe the group used a network of fake Chinese stores and companies to hide and move large sums of money obtained from illegal activities. These businesses were set up using false identities to open multiple bank accounts across Portugal. Once the money was deposited, it was transferred to other bank accounts based in countries outside the European Union.

[...]

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[–] minoscopede@lemmy.world 3 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (2 children)

I have to ask: would this story be so popular if they didn't mention that the four people that did this were Chinese?

Racism doesn't disappear just because the article doesn't say the quiet part out loud. We all know the thought process that led to this article's virality.

Let's do better, Lemmy. We all have an opportunity to make the world a more tolerant and empathetic place through what we post and upvote.

[–] SharkWeek@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 4 weeks ago

As someone who lives on the Iberian peninsular, I would have been interested to see it!

[–] devfuuu@lemmy.world 2 points 4 weeks ago

It only makes sense since we are a few days from elections and obviously all right wing parties are using all they can to put racism upfront as their core agenda.