On 18 December 2017, National Bureau of Investigations of the Slovenian Police, supported by the Croatian Police and Europol, have dismantled an international crime syndicate involved in sports corruption and illegal betting. The network had created an illegal web-platform in order to convey large bets on major Asian bookmakers. In total, 13 house searches and 15 vehicles searches in different locations in Slovenia and Croatia have been carried out.
The investigation began in March 2017, when Slovenian police realised that an organised crime group had created different websites as part of an online illegal betting platform used to gather multi-million Euro and to place bets on manipulated sport events that took place in multiple European countries. Members of Organised Crime Group are suspected of being involved in attempts to fix professional football matches (at least) in Serbia, FYROM and Czech Republic. The organised criminal group behind these activities has been betting primarily on the Asian market, where they guaranteed considerable financial gains knowing the end result of the matches.
The illegal betting platform had been designed in such a way to ensure total anonymity of the financial transactions. Different members of the group transferred the money through several virtual currency exchange systems like Skrill or Paysafe. The money earned through illegal betting was transferred to an Internet-operated Bank (Alternative Banking Platform) and then transferred to different off-shore shell companies used to disguise the proceeds of crime from the real beneficiaries. The ring developed synergies with other top criminal groups in different countries in order to invest money gained from other serious crimes, including drug trafficking.
In total, eleven house searches and thirteen vehicle searches in Slovenia, and two house searches and two vehicle searches in Croatia were carried out, resulting in the seizure of 35 computers and IT devices, 32 mobile phones, 19 650€ cash, 38 500€ of counterfeit euro banknotes, 2 cars and in the arrest of 11 members of the organised group from Slovenia and Croatia. All of the suspects have been accused of organised crime, sports corruption and illegal betting.
Sergio D’Orsi - Specialist of Europol’s Analysis Project Sports Corruption said: "Sports Corruption is a serious crime and a truly global phenomenon carried out by organised crime groups, most often operating cross-border. This international investigation has shown the level of sophistication reached by certain criminal networks involved in sports corruption which use new modi operandi to generate large illegal profits and invest money also coming from other serious crimes. International police cooperation is fundamental to disrupt such criminal networks. Our support to the investigation has surely given an added value to our MS thanks to Europol’s unique analytical resources and expertise, and its high-level of engagement in this field."
Darko MajheniÄŤ - Director of National Bureau of Investigations of the Slovenian Police said: "Slovenian Police is committed to pursue corruption in sport and Illegal betting in the region. Cooperation among Europol member countries and support of Europol have helped our skilled investigators to handle the workload. Investigators all over Europe will benefit from evidence gathered today."
Europol has supported the investigation since the beginning by providing continued analytical support. On the action day, three Europol experts were deployed to Slovenia to provide on-the-spot assistance including real-time cross-checks and analysis of data gathered during the action.