Italian authorities say they have broken up a mafia-linked money laundering network that allegedly moved €68 million out of the country through a Milan car rental business and then routed part of the funds through cryptocurrency exchanges. The case, led by the Guardia di Finanza and authorities in Monza Brianza, resulted in 30 arrests and stretches across Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.
Investigators allege the network handled proceeds tied to drug trafficking, crypto scams, fraudulent invoicing, and other banked funds. According to authorities, crypto exchanges were used to convert the money and send it to wallets controlled by suspects, while the broader scheme relied on shell companies and false business paperwork to disguise the origin of the funds.
Car rental company at the center
At the center of the case is a Milan-based car rental operation that authorities say was linked to the Ndrangheta and Camorra mafia groups. Investigators allege the business served as a channel for moving illicit money abroad under the appearance of legitimate commercial activity.
Italian police also say profits from the operation were used to support mafia members in prison. The inquiry further reportedly linked the scheme to the so-called “Fourth Mafia,” described in the source report as one of Italy’s youngest mafia factions.
How the laundering operation allegedly worked
According to investigators, shell companies generated €110 million in false invoices for work that was never actually carried out. Authorities say those invoices helped wash funds through the financial system before some of the money was converted into cryptocurrency.
Police allege the ring drew in a range of clients looking to clean funds, including crypto scammers, drug traffickers, and tax evaders. After money was funneled through the invoicing structure, investigators say crypto exchanges were used to transfer value onward to wallets under the suspects’ control, while other funds were laundered into European banks.
Arrests and people named in the probe
The operation led to 30 arrests in total. Among those detained were two individuals highlighted by authorities: a driver working for the Milan magistrate’s office and a lawyer based in Milan.
Authorities have not publicly resolved the allegations in court, and the case remains at the investigation stage based on the source report. The arrests mark the latest step in what appears to be a cross-border financial crime probe involving organized crime groups and digital asset channels.
What authorities are seeking next
Italian authorities are aiming to seize about €21 million in connection with the investigation. That figure is separate from the €68 million investigators say was moved out of Italy through the alleged laundering network.
For now, the confirmed next step is asset seizure efforts tied to the case, alongside the ongoing legal process following the arrests. The investigation as described by authorities points to continued scrutiny of how traditional organized crime networks may use commercial fronts, false invoicing, and crypto infrastructure together.
Source: protos.com