A significant operation, dubbed Strongbox, resulted in the arrest of fourteen individuals linked to the Russian mafia, conducted by authorities in Portugal and Spain with support from Europol.

The investigation began in 2023 after law enforcement noticed Russian mafia members frequently transferring money for foreign nationals in Spain.

Investigators discovered that the gang primarily utilized the 'Hawala' method to facilitate daily cash transactions, sometimes reaching up to 300,000 euros, with funds mainly sourced from drug trafficking.

Raids were executed across nine properties in cities including Madrid, Málaga, Marbella, and Lisbon, revealing high-security safes and sound-proof money-counting machines used to conceal operations.

The operation led to the seizure of over one million euros in cash and cryptocurrencies, highlighting the scale of the money laundering activities.

The initiative was co-financed by the European Union, aimed at assisting member states in combating criminal networks that threaten citizen safety and EU security.

Europol played a crucial role by providing analytical support and dispatching a specialist to assist investigators on-site during the operation.

Europol's focus on high-value targets and financial investigations is part of a broader strategy to dismantle organized crime and recover illicit assets.

The criminal organization charged clients a fee of 2-3% of the laundered amount, operating similarly to a multinational company.

Plans were uncovered indicating the gang's intention to expand operations to Cuba, where they aimed to trade solar panel installations for mineral resources.

Members of the gang employed various tactics to evade law enforcement, including frequent relocations and the use of encrypted communication methods.

The gang's operations involved laundering money for various mafia groups, including Albanian, Serbian, Armenian, Chinese, Ukrainian, and Colombian syndicates.