Polish police detain eight in international money‑laundering and armed crime ring

Eight people – four women and four men, including two Polish citizens and six Ukrainians – were detained by the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Łódź as part of an investigation into money‑laundering tied to online fraud schemes. The suspects were recruited through internet ads promising quick earnings and were tasked with opening bank accounts, providing full access to cards and login data, and funneling stolen funds received from scam victims. The money, ranging from roughly 10,300 to 44,500 zł per account, was transferred onward, withdrawn via ATMs using the BLIK system, and intended for purchase of cryptocurrency.

Investigators say the suspects belonged to an armed international criminal group that also included citizens of Moldova and Georgia. The group used violence against members wishing to leave. During the operation, police also seized significant quantities of mephedrone and hashish, leading to drug‑possession charges. Prosecutors indicated sentences could reach up to 15 years imprisonment.

The case highlights coordinated cyber‑enabled fraud and money‑laundering activities operating across several European countries.