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[CRIME] · Spain, Portugal, Ireland · 13 sources

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Aldama hydrocarbon fraud: UCO seeks to block Portuguese accounts

The Spanish Civil Guard's Central Operating Unit (UCO) has requested that Judge Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional immediately block numerous bank accounts in Portugal linked to a major hydrocarbon fraud investigation. The network, allegedly led by businessman Víctor de Aldama and his partner Claudio Rivas, is accused of a tax fraud totaling approximately 182.5 million euros through the company Villafuel SL.

Investigators have documented the diversion of over 78 million euros to Portugal via shell companies to launder the proceeds. There is a noted discrepancy between the 78.3 million euros identified by the UCO and the 56.5 million euros confirmed by Portuguese authorities.

Furthermore, the UCO has requested a European investigation order to determine if funds transferred to Portugal were subsequently used to purchase cryptocurrencies in Ireland. Specifically, investigators tracked a transfer of 213,663 euros from the company Letras e Contrates to Payward Europe LTD, the parent company of the Kraken exchange, through multiple transactions in 2022.

Entities

Audiencia Nacional · Claudio Rivas · Guardia Civil · Santiago Pedraz · Villafuel SL · Víctor de Aldama

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