Mar.01, 2010, 23:15 PM
Russian investigators have uncovered an international criminal group that had been involved in illicit banking activities and money laundering in Russia since 2007, China's Xinhua news agency reported the Interior Ministry as saying Monday.
The group "has laundered over 30 billion rubles (1 billion U.S. dollars), 440 million dollars and 123 million euros (164 million dollars)," the ministry said in a statement.
Three commercial banks, 72 Russian and seven foreign commercial institutions were allegedly involved in the money laundering scheme, the statement said, adding that three people had already been charged with illegal banking activities and money laundering.
The investigation is still going on.
The group opened bank accounts for fly-by-night firms, provided cash services to private and corporate investors, and bought and sold foreign currencies, the statement said.
Money laundering has been a big problem for Russia, which is ranked high in both origin and destination for laundered money.