Operation BELENOS II: Over €2.7 Million Seized During Customs Operation Targeting Illicit Financial Flows

Press release No 24/2024

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In November 2024, a major customs operation resulted in more than 500 cash movement checks across Europe. Operation BELENOS II, led by the French Customs authorities, aimed at disrupting illicit financial flows linked to money laundering, terrorism financing and organised crime. As a result, over €2.7 million in cash, gold and jewellery were seized, with further checks expected to increase the amount. 

The joint customs operation was co-led by Spanish Customs and Europol, with substantial support provided by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). Building on the success of the first Operation BELENOS in 2022, the two-week effort brought together customs authorities from 23 EU member states, marking another milestone in EU’s fight against financial crime.

OLAF played a key role by providing financial, analytical and technical support to the Member States, including the use of the secured Virtual Operations Coordination Unit (VOCU) application that allows secure exchange of information during the operation.

Thanks to the cooperation with Europol, the operation revealed significant amounts of undeclared cash, gold and jewelry, including a single case involving assets valued at more than €1 million. BELENOS II exposed fraud patters among individuals already known to law enforcement and identified new methods used by criminal networks to smuggle unreported cash and assets. 

Ville Itälä, OLAF Director-General, said: “The success of Operation BELENOS II underscores the vital role of European cooperation in dismantling and disrupting financial networks supporting organised crime and terrorism, and safeguarding EU’s financial security.”

As investigations proceed, the total value of seized assets is expected to rise. Further information on operation BELENOS II can be found on the French Customs website.

Background

The French customs authorities led operation BELENOS II, with the Spanish customs authorities and Europol as co-leaders, all supported by OLAF. It was carried out from 12 to 24 November 2024 in 23 EU Member-States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

The customs authorities of the EU member states play a key role in safeguarding the EU against illicit financial flows associated with organised crime and the financing of terrorism. Their tasks are continually strengthened by European regulations, notably Regulation (EU) 2018/1672, which has expanded their powers to monitor and control cash movements. 

Operation BELENOS II aimed to control the movements of accompanied cash and unaccompanied cash (being sent by freight, post or courier), equal to or in excess of €10,000 entering or leaving the EU, in accordance with the said regulation. 

_{OLAF mission, mandate and competences:
OLAF’s mission is to detect, investigate and stop fraud with EU funds.}    

_{OLAF fulfils its mission by:
•    carrying out independent investigations into fraud and corruption involving EU funds, so as to ensure that all EU taxpayers’ money reaches projects that can create jobs and growth in Europe;
•    contributing to strengthening citizens’ trust in the EU Institutions by investigating serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU Institutions;
•    developing a sound EU anti-fraud policy.}

_{In its independent investigative function, OLAF can investigate matters relating to fraud, corruption and other offences affecting the EU financial interests concerning:
•    all EU expenditure: the main spending categories are Structural Funds, agricultural policy and rural development funds, direct expenditure and external aid;
•    some areas of EU revenue, mainly customs duties;
•    suspicions of serious misconduct by EU staff and members of the EU institutions.}

_{Once OLAF has completed its investigation, it is for the competent EU and national authorities to examine and decide on the follow-up of OLAF’s recommendations. All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a competent national or EU court of law.}

For further details:

Pierluigi CATERINO
Spokesperson
European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)
Phone: +32(0)2 29-52335  
Email: olaf-media@ec.europa.eu
https://anti-fraud.ec.europa.eu
LinkedIn: European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)

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