SloveniaThe article reports on a cryptocurrency-related money transfer system discovered through a WhatsApp group called 'Traders of Greater Europe,' which was used for cross-border cash transactions involving large sums of money. The group, active between late February and December 2022, communicated in Arabic and facilitated transactions worth thousands of euros. Belgian investigators linked the group to terrorism financing, finding evidence of payments intended for members of the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, allegedly used to support women fleeing detention camps. The system, known as Hawala, operates outside traditional banking systems and is often used by criminal organizations to avoid regulation. The article highlights the risks of such systems, including their potential for facilitating human trafficking, drug trade, prostitution, and other illegal activities. It also mentions other cases uncovered by European authorities, including a network involved in migrant smuggling and financial transactions totaling hundreds of millions of euros.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced overview of the issue, citing both the legal uses of Hawala and its misuse by criminals and terrorist groups. It includes quotes from Belgian prosecutors and references to investigations by European authorities without overtly favoring any particular political stance.
