An international journalistic investigation reveals the use of the hawala network in money laundering and drug trafficking.

An unofficial money transfer system, known as hawala, has been investigated by television stations in Denmark, Belgium, Spain, and Austria, which discovered that it is used not only for legitimate transfers but also for organized crime.

Originating from merchants who avoided the dangerous routes of the Silk Road, hawala allows the transfer of value without the physical circulation of money. Although it is used by millions of people for remittances, the system is unregulated in most European countries. The investigation revealed links to drug trafficking and money laundering, and journalists demonstrated the ease with which transfers can be made without documentation.

Europol warns that hawala has become the preferred bank of criminals, managing billions of euros from illegal activities. Authorities are focusing on intermediaries, viewing them as weak points in this parallel financial system.