Dutch criminals are using potato exports to Africa to launder money.

Over the past five years, criminals ‘exported’ at least €150m worth of produce, particularly potatoes, to Africa.

The news came in an annual report from the Netherlands Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD).

Laundering money through agricultural exports and other types of goods to African countries is relatively easy, as, in many cases, these businesses still pay in cash.

Investigations

It is believed that the potatoes were exported and paid for in cash.

The criminal money was then mixed in with legal trade and the earnings look as if they are the result of genuine business dealings, a FIOD representative said.

FIOD completed over 900 investigations in 2020.

One of the most notable was an investigation into fraud involving facemasks.