Major Money Laundering Network Linking France, Belgium, and Mauritania Dismantled with €8 Million Seized

French authorities have dismantled a sophisticated international money laundering network connected to drug trafficking, operating between France, Belgium, and Mauritania. The operation culminated in the arrest of fifteen individuals and the seizure of 50 kilograms of cocaine alongside approximately €8 million in assets.

The investigation began in 2025 following suspicious meetings at Bordeaux train station involving local drug traffickers and Mauritanian cash collectors. These collectors, mostly Mauritanian nationals, transported large sums of cash across France — including cities like Paris, Massy, L’Haÿ-les-Roses, and Alfortville — under the pretense of vehicle purchases. Using customs declarations, they crossed into Belgium, particularly targeting Molenbeek and Anderlecht neighborhoods in Brussels, to deposit the illicit funds.

Authorities identified a vehicle trading company based in Brussels as a front for the money laundering operation. Bank accounts linked to the company revealed nearly €7.9 million in cash deposits. Investigators estimate that this network amassed around €24 million over an eight-month period, far surpassing the €7.5 million legally declared by fourteen Mauritanian nationals entering France since 2019.

The June 5 and 6 police raids targeted multiple locations in France and Belgium, resulting in the seizure of €500,000 in cash and drugs and the charging and detention of two collectors in France. Meanwhile, in Belgium, five individuals were indicted; four were released on bail while one remains subject to an arrest warrant. The presumed mastermind of the network is thought to be in Mauritania and remains under pursuit.

The investigation involved multiple agencies, including France's Office anti-stupéfiants (Ofast) and the Office central pour la répression de la grande délinquance financière (OCRGDF). One collector disclosed receiving €400 per trip for transporting cash. This crackdown marks a significant blow to transnational drug trafficking money flows in the region.

According to French police officials, the network’s scale demonstrated massive cash flows that had been cleverly concealed through layered transactions and front companies. The operation underscores ongoing cooperation between French and Belgian law enforcement in targeting organized crime linked to international drug trafficking.