Ireland Case No. 2920Money laundering (possessing crime proceeds) · Co. Dublin
Chinese couple charged over alleged €21m international money laundering operation
Jixu Wang (35) and his wife Ye Wang (34), from China, were charged at Dublin District Court with possessing crime proceeds in digital bank accounts in connection with an alleged €21 million international money laundering operation involving online bank and cryptocurrency accounts. They were remanded in custody after Judge John Campbell described their ties to Ireland as 'tenuous'.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested13 Nov
2 reports - Charged16 Nov
2 reports - In court12 Nov
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports53 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA man and a woman, both in their 30s, were arrested at the scene of the raid. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatThe investigation relates to a large-scale money laundering operation involving alleged online fraud. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatSuspicious activity was identified in bank accounts involving transactions from over 15 countries across Europe. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatIn excess of €3.25 million in crypto currencies was seized. (dublinlive.ie)
- what€20,000 in cash was seized. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatDocuments and several digital devices of potential evidential value were also seized. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- what€21 million was allegedly transferred through online bank and cryptocurrency accounts (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple previously ran a cryptocurrency trading business (irishtimes.com)
- whatThey moved from the Philippines to Ireland last year as part of an immigration investment programme after donating €400,000 to ICARE Housing CLG (irishtimes.com)
- whatA German national had €10,000 transferred from his bank to a Paytend digital bank account of Mr Wang (irishtimes.com)
- whatMs Wang's Paytend account received 733 transactions valued at some €2.1 million from 321 different bank accounts from September 11th last year and January 12th this year (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe two accused were unemployed but had just more than €7 million in their accounts (irishtimes.com)
- whatGardaí identified €14.7 million in cryptocurrency wallets, of which €4.4 million has been seized or frozen (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe couple were charged with possessing crime proceeds in a digital bank account between September 2023 and February 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- what€21m was allegedly transferred through online banks and cryptocurrency accounts as part of a suspected international money laundering operation. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe pair previously ran a cryptocurrency trading business and moved from the Philippines to Ireland as part of an immigration investment programme after donating €400,000 to ICARE Housing CLG. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatYe Wang's Paytend account received 733 transactions valued at just over €2.1m from 321 different bank accounts between 11 September 2023 and 12 January 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatBoth were unemployed but had just over €7m in their accounts. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGardaí including the Criminal Assets Bureau identified €14.7m in cryptocurrency wallets, of which €4.4m was seized or frozen. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatThe apartment search resulted in the seizure of €20,000, gold coins, and five envelopes with seed words to access a cryptocurrency wallet, along with documents, phones and laptops. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatMrs Wang allegedly helped create fake documents to set up money mule accounts. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe raid was carried out at a house in Blackrock, Dublin. (dublinlive.ie)
- whereThe couple live on Avoca Road, Blackrock (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe couple rented an apartment on Avoca Road, Blackrock, south Co Dublin. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe raid took place on Tuesday, 12 November 2024. (dublinlive.ie)
- whenOfficers received information on March 9th last from German police about a suspected investment fraud (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe couple were arrested on Tuesday, 12 November 2024. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation is international, led by the DMR East Division's Economic Crime Unit and co-ordinated by Europol. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn incident room has been set up and a Senior Investigating Officer appointed. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationGardaí, CAB and Europol officers executed a search warrant on an address in south Dublin on Tuesday 12 November 2024 (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMembers from the DMR East Division's Economic Crime Unit, CAB, GNDOCB and Europol searched a property in Blackrock (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation team was established following international complaints into various forms of alleged online fraud (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationAn incident room has been set up and a Senior Investigating Officer has been appointed (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí expect the DPP will seek more serious charges (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe investigation was conducted by the Dublin East Garda economic crime unit with cooperation from Europol and police in Germany, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationOn 9 March, officers received information from German police about a suspected investment fraud involving a German national who had €10,000 transferred to Mr Wang's Paytend account. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGPS location data for login dates on both Paytend accounts matched the couple's address. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationMr Wang was interviewed a dozen times at Blackrock Garda station over four days. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe man and woman in their 30s have been charged as part of the investigation. (garda.ie)
- chargeThe investigation covers offences contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 and Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe couple were charged with possessing crime proceeds in digital bank accounts between September of last year and February of this year (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe offences are under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act which can carry a 14-year sentence (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
- courtBoth are due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin on 16 November 2024. (garda.ie)
- courtThe two arrested are detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007 at a Garda Station in Dublin. (dublinlive.ie, irishmirror.ie)
- courtGardaí objected to bail citing flight risk and potential disposal of evidence (irishtimes.com)
- courtJudge John Campbell remanded them into prison custody to appear in court again on Wednesday (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe couple were denied bail at Dublin District Court before Judge John Campbell. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe investigation concerns alleged facilitation of a criminal organisation and international money laundering offences. (garda.ie)
- otherGardaí described the investigation as relating to a large scale operation of alleged money laundering (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA man and a woman, both in their 30s, were arrested at the scene of the search (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGardaí seized in excess of €3.25 million in crypto currencies and €20,000 in cash (irishmirror.ie)
- otherYe Wang is a qualified accountant. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe couple have a young child and no family in Ireland or links to the jurisdiction. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Nov2024Married couple charged with laundering millions using money mules
Reports the charging of the couple and details of the bail hearing at Dublin District Court, including the scale of the alleged laundering, the international cooperation involved, and items seized from their Blackrock apartment.
- 16 Nov2024Married couple charged over alleged €21m international money laundering operation
Details of the investigation by the Dublin East economic crime unit with international co-operation, the specific transactions identified, assets seized, and the bail hearing before Judge John Campbell.
- 14 Nov2024Man and woman arrested in connection with 'large scale' money laundering
Details the arrest and search at Blackrock on 12 November 2024, the involvement of Europol, CAB, GNDOCB and the DMR East Economic Crime Unit, the nature of the investigation (online fraud, money mule transactions across 15+ countries), and the seizure of over €3.25m in crypto and €20,000 cash.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, female - 13 Nov2024Two arrested after Dublin raid investigating money laundering and fraud
Initial report of the raid and arrests; investigation ongoing and international in scope, co-ordinated by Europol.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, female - 12 Nov2024Court Appearance - Investigation into alleged facilitation of a Criminal Organisation and International Money Laundering Offences 12th November 2024
Confirms the man and woman in their 30s have been charged and appeared at the Criminal Courts of Justice on 16 November 2024.
suspect, 30s, malesuspect, 30s, female