Money laundering, SPAK: Here are the businesses involved, money transfer and transporters benefit up to 10%
Money laundering schemes are increasingly characterized by the diversification of transfer channels and the masking of funds, including informal value transfer systems, the use of cryptocurrencies, intensive cash circulation and the fragmentation of transactions. The SPAK annual report states that in some cases the use of international networks as operational nodes in several countries has been found.
According to investigators, recurring features are the involvement and use of formally legal business entities as a cover for the circulation and recycling of funds. Included are currency exchange offices, money transfer companies, travel agencies, construction and commercial entities, as well as non-bank financial structures. These activities serve not only for the deposit and distribution of amounts, but also for the creation of fictitious documentation. A particular characteristic was the distribution of benefits within the networks; the persons who carry out the transfer and transport of money usually benefited from 3 to 10% of the amount sent, with a common average rate of around 5–6% divided between the coordinators in the country of origin and those in the host country, while the physical carriers receive lower remuneration, around 1–5% or a fixed fee for each shipment.
According to SPAK, the final phase of laundering involves investments in real estate, businesses with high cash turnover and commercial activities with weak internal controls, aiming to integrate criminal proceeds into the formal economy. The cases are showing the transition from sporadic models to stable and multifaceted money laundering architectures, supported by sophisticated organization, international cooperation and alternative financial instruments.
According to the report's data, in 2025, SPAK registered 32 criminal proceedings for the criminal offense of money laundering, which are related to complex issues, characterized by large financial values and sophisticated money laundering schemes.
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