國際時事跟讀 Ep.K657:Singapore Police Seize $1.75 Billion in Luxury Items in Money Laundering Crackdown
Singapore authorities have revealed that they have made significant advancements in uncovering a massive money laundering operation, resulting in the seizure of luxury items, gold bars, and other assets valued at a staggering $1.75 billion. This revelation marks a major development in an ongoing crackdown on organized criminal activities, including scams and online gambling. The police initiated further operations against a group of foreign nationals suspected of being involved in laundering the proceeds of these illicit activities, significantly impacting Singapore's reputation as a global financial hub renowned for its low crime rates and clean image.
新加坡當局透露，他們在揭露一起大規模洗錢行動中取得了重大進展，結果查獲了價值驚人的17.5億美元的奢侈品、金條和其他資產。這項發現彰顯了對有組織的犯罪活動，包括詐騙和線上博弈的持續打擊取得了重大發展。警方對一群涉嫌參與將這些非法活動收益洗白的外國人展開了進一步的行動，這對新加坡以其低犯罪率和清廉形象聞名的全球金融中心形象造成了重大衝擊。
Last month, the police conducted a series of raids across the city-state, resulting in the seizure or freezing of properties, vehicles, luxury goods, and gold bars worth $731 million. Nine individuals, comprising men and a woman from Cyprus, Turkey, China, Cambodia, and Vanuatu, have already been charged in court in connection with this complex case. The latest operations have expanded the total estimated value of seized or frozen assets to an astonishing $1.75 billion. This includes the discovery of bank accounts with an estimated value exceeding $824 million and a substantial cash sum of over $55 million.
上個月，警方在這個城市國家進行了一系列突襲，導致價值7.31億美元的財產、車輛、奢侈品和金條被查封或凍結。與這個複雜案件有關的已經有來自賽普勒斯、土耳其、中國、柬埔寨和萬那杜共和國的八名男子和一名女子被提起訴訟。最新的行動已經擴大了被查封或凍結資產的總估值，達到了驚人的17.5億美元。這包括發現估值超過8.24億美元的銀行帳戶和超過5500萬美元的大筆現金。
In addition to these monetary assets, authorities have also confiscated 68 gold bars, 294 luxury bags, 164 high-end watches, 546 pieces of jewelry, 204 electronic devices, and cryptocurrencies valued at more than $28 million. Furthermore, prohibition of disposal orders has been issued against more than 110 properties and 62 vehicles with a combined estimated value exceeding $906 million, along with bottles of liquor, wine, and various ornaments. The investigations into this extensive money laundering scheme are still ongoing, reflecting the complexity of the case.
除了這些貨幣資產外，當局還沒收了68塊金條、294個奢侈包、164只高檔手錶、546件珠寶、204個電子設備和價值超過2800萬美元的加密貨幣。此外，已對超過110處房產和62輛車輛發出了不得處置的命令，總估值超過9.06億美元，還有各種酒類、葡萄酒和各種擺設飾品。針對這起大規模洗錢計劃的調查仍在進行中，反映了案件的複雜性。
The Monetary Authority of Singapore had previously indicated that the arrests were the result of financial institutions reporting suspicious transactions, including dubious fund flows, inadequate documentation regarding the source of wealth or funds, and inconsistencies in the information provided. This incident has brought to light the vulnerability of Singapore, as a global financial hub, to transnational money laundering and terrorism financing risks. In response, the Monetary Authority of Singapore has pledged to collaborate with financial institutions to bolster defenses against such risks, warning of strict action against institutions that fail to meet compliance requirements or have insufficient controls in place to counter these threats. This ongoing investigation underscores the importance of robust financial safeguards in preserving Singapore's reputation as a secure and transparent financial center.
新加坡金融管理局先前曾表示，逮捕行動是金融機構報告可疑交易的結果，包括可疑的資金流動、有關財富或資金來源的不充分文件以及提供的信息存在不一致或迴避行為。此事件暴露了新加坡作為全球金融中心在跨國洗錢和恐怖主義融資風險前的脆弱性。對此，新加坡金融管理局承諾將與金融機構合作，加強對於這些風險的防範，並警告將對違反合規要求或控制不足以對抗這些威脅的金融機構採取嚴厲行動。這項持續進行中的調查凸顯了強大的金融保障措施對於保護新加坡作為一個安全透明的金融中心聲譽的重要性。
Reference article: https://apnews.com/article/singapore-money-laundering-asset-seizure-7640db7f784c05ac9024ef877aba1045