In a decisive verdict, the Monaco court convicted three young men on July 9 for money laundering and drug-related offences. The case, which drew significant public attention, stemmed from a suspicious trip the defendants made to the Principality on January 20, 2023.
Two of the defendants appeared in court, while the third was represented by his lawyer, as he remained at large. Their troubles began when they asked for directions to the Société Générale bank, arousing police suspicion. Upon investigation, police found the three carrying a total of 23,445 euros in cash, strategically split among them to circumvent Monaco’s cash carrying limit of 10,000 euros.
When questioned about the origins of the money, the defendants’ explanations failed to convince the authorities. One claimed his portion was from lifetime savings, another cited recent casino winnings, and the third alleged he was a car sale intermediary. However, the man claiming casino winnings could not provide any documentation, and the prospective Rolex buyer’s financial situation did not align with his claims of extensive savings.
A deeper investigation into their phones uncovered incriminating messages. One defendant’s messages strongly suggested involvement in drug dealing, despite his court claims of mere fascination with the subject. The prosecutor contended that these messages were indicative of drug trafficking activities, underscoring Monaco’s ongoing efforts to shed any association with money laundering.
The defendants’ criminal histories further weakened their defence. The man with the alleged drug-dealing messages had a previous arrest for drug use in 2017. Another had a drug trafficking conviction from 2018. The car sales intermediary had multiple convictions, including participation in a drug trafficking operation, and had even escaped from prison.
The court handed down guilty verdicts to all three men. The defendant with unverified casino winnings received a six-month prison sentence, the man claiming life savings was sentenced to four months, and the car sales intermediary received the harshest sentence of eight months. Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of their phones and the 23,445 euros.
This case serves as a stern reminder of Monaco’s strict stance against financial crimes and drug-related offences, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining a law-abiding reputation.
