WhatsApp group chat used to send millions in cash, funding crime and extremism – BBC News
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A WhatsApp group chat was used to send hundreds of millions of euros in cash around the world, funding organised crime and extremism with no paper trail, an investigation by European broadcasters has found.
The Group Chat:
- Name: Traders of Greater Europe
- Members: 532
- Messages: Over 82,000 sent between late February and December 2022
- Uncovered: By Belgian investigating magistrate Vincent Guerra
Findings:
- The chat network covered "the entire planet", with transactions in numerous countries.
- Payments were made to militants from the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria.
- Similar cash transfer systems are used in people smuggling and drug trafficking.
Method of Transfer:
The group chat members used the ancient hawala transfer system, which allows for international money transfers without electronic records or physical transport of bank notes. This involves an agreement between two brokers who settle up their transactions later.
Hawala System:
- Legitimate Use: Often used by immigrant workers to send funds home.
- Criminal Activity: Criminals can avoid suspicion by using hawala transfers instead of the Swift system.
Legal Status:
- Hawala is illegal in many countries but legal in the UK if brokers are registered with HMRC.
Convictions:
- Six money launderers, including Abu Adam and Abu Ahmed, were convicted in a 2024 Belgian court case.
The cache of WhatsApp messages was obtained by the EBU following their convictions.
