European police supported by Europol announced the dismantling of a sophisticated underground financial network used to launder massive profits from drug trafficking across the EU.

The illicit banking system, hidden behind a network of front companies, moved an estimated €180 million in proceeds from cocaine trafficking into the legal economy.

Authorities worked in coordination with Belgian and Spanish law enforcement to identify key figures in the syndicate that operated across multiple countries.

Six suspects were arrested — five in Belgium and one in Spain — in joint raids designed to disrupt the group's financial infrastructure.

Over €1.2 million in cryptocurrency holdings and luxury real estate assets were seized as evidence of the group’s laundering operations.

Investigators uncovered elaborate methods of converting illicit profits into legitimate assets, including high-end property purchases and investments.

The criminal network exploited international ports and airports to funnel cocaine shipments before 'cleaning' the proceeds through complex banking arrangements.

Encrypted messages helped authorities trace the syndicate’s structure and pinpoint key operatives who had evaded detection for years.

The operation highlights growing law enforcement collaboration across EU borders to tackle sophisticated money laundering schemes.

Europol officials noted that transnational criminal networks increasingly use blending methods to conceal illegal income, requiring advanced investigative tools.