In recent weeks, the Belgian press has highlighted two major cases concerning money laundering. In the first case, as revealed by the EIC journalist consortium, Wise, a company specialising in international money transfers operating under a Belgian licence, is under investigation for alleged failures in money laundering controls. In the second case, Knack, Le Soir, and RTBF have investigated the rise of Albanian-speaking crime in Belgium, particularly regarding money laundering mechanisms stemming from illicit trafficking.
Money laundering is often a secondary offence stemming from corruption cases, making its investigation crucial. Although distinct in nature, these two cases highlight a common challenge: the difficulty of combating them on a transnational scale.
The Wise Case:
The money transfer company is under investigation because its services are suspected of being used by criminal groups to engage in fraud, corruption, or drug trafficking. Euronews explains: “The findings primarily concern the use of Wise accounts for criminal purposes with indications of non-compliance with anti-money laundering legislation, particularly due to a failure of Wise to identify customers and their activities.”
Neobanks and electronic money institutions are often focal points for money laundering risks, as they require fewer checks than traditional banks. Furthermore, in Europe, payment service providers can hold a “European passport,” meaning they can operate across the entire European Union with a single national licence. In the case of Wise, this licence is held in Belgium, meaning the National Bank of Belgium is responsible for regulating transactions throughout Europe, which complicates oversight. To date, Wise is presumed innocent and has stated that it is cooperating with the Belgian authorities.
The case of Albanian networks in Belgium:
During a joint investigation by Knack, Le Soir, and RTBF, journalists analysed court documents and judicial decisions related to more than 20 cases involving Albanians in Belgium. The journalists noted three major dimensions in the organisation of Albanian-speaking crime: an international dimension, high mobility, and the ability to move the proceeds of their illicit activities.
They demonstrated how money collected, notably in Belgium, was laundered in Albania or Dubai. The difficulty in these cases therefore lies in cooperating with the Albanian authorities to enable transnational investigations and to grasp the full scale of this criminality.
How to fight money laundering and transnational corruption in Belgium:
Beyond the complexity of dealing with money laundering cases, it is all cases of corruption and transnational organised crime that require special attention.
As a reminder, in March 2025, the OECD published a report on Belgium as part of the fourth phase of the Anti-Bribery Convention. Read our press release on this subject here: Press Release: Belgium’s Application of the Anti-Bribery Convention Remains Limited, Transparency International Belgium Warns – Transparency International Belgium. The report acknowledges that Belgium has indeed made significant legislative and institutional changes (notably the extension of the statute of limitations, the strengthening of sanctions against individuals, the extension of Belgian jurisdiction to prosecute acts of corruption committed abroad by foreign public officials, etc.). Nevertheless, it highlights that, despite these positive developments, the number of investigations and prosecutions for transnational corruption remains too low given Belgium’s economic situation and trade profile.
Between 2016 and 2025, only five individuals and no legal entities were found guilty of bribing foreign public officials in three court cases. The reasons for this situation are well known: a structural lack of staff, resources, and technical means within the police and the judicial system, as well as the absence of a strategy to combat transnational corruption integrated into Belgian criminal policy. The development of an anti-corruption strategy, as provided for by the EU Anti-Corruption Directive, represents an opportunity to address the challenge of transnational corruption.
Belgium occupies a central position in terms of access to European markets, whether legal or illegal. It must therefore establish robust mechanisms for cooperation, prevention, and prosecution of companies and organizations operating in different countries.
At Transparency International Belgium, we act daily to build an honest and corruption free society. Our action focuses on the prevention and direct fight against this scourge. To cut the evil at the root, we are convinced that it is necessary to follow the money trail and make Belgian society aware of financial crimes associated with corruption, in particular money laundering.
