3021/2025/WEB 'Chinese Underground Banking'

The aim of this webinar is to strengthen the understanding of illegal money transfer systems of Chinese Organised Crime Groups and share contemporary investigation and enforcement practices via the demonstration of case studies and investigative tactics. Chinese underground banking systems, often referred to as shadow banking structures, operate outside of regulated financial frameworks and pose significant challenges to law enforcement and financial authorities. These informal money transfer systems are exploited by organised crime groups, corrupt officials, and tax evaders, to launder proceeds of crime, circumvent currency controls, and finance illicit activities across borders. The scale and complexity of these networks undermine financial integrity, distort legal economies, and weaken trust in international regulatory systems. The illegal operations manifest in multiple ways, including trade-based money laundering schemes, mirror transactions, the use of front companies and shell structures, falsified invoices, and the exploitation of legitimate business channels to disguise illicit financial flows. Increasingly, underground bankers combine traditional methods with modern financial technologies, including cryptocurrencies and online platforms, which makes detection and enforcement even more challenging. This webinar will bring together financial crime investigators, customs officials, and policy experts to share experiences and investigative practices from across Europe and beyond. Participants will engage in an in-depth discussion on the most pressing challenges in detecting and disrupting underground banking networks, with the sole focus on Chinese-operated systems.
By the end of this webinar, the audience will be able to:

• Recognise typical structure and functioning of Chinese underground banking systems;
• Identify key intelligence sources and innovative investigative methods;
• Discuss methods of financial tracing;
• Debate possibilities and difficulties of law enforcement cooperation within the EU;
• Improve cooperation and information sharing across borders.