New arrests in the Caritas case

The massive investigation into Luxembourg's biggest financial scandal in recent years - the embezzlement of more than 60 million euros from the Caritas fund - has entered a new phase involving several European countries. The prosecutor's office of the Grand Duchy announced: after establishing the key circumstances of the case inside the country, investigative actions have moved outside its borders. The alleged organisers of the scheme, who helped to transfer the stolen funds through accounts in Spain, have come under international scrutiny.

A key target of the police operation was the so-called "recruiters" who, according to the investigation, instructed the creation of banking structures used for money laundering. According to the prosecutor's office, these actions were coordinated directly from Luxembourg.

On Tuesday, 12 officers from the specialised units FAME (Formation, Appui, Méthodologie Ecofin) and FAST (Fugitive Active Search Team) conducted synchronised raids in the UK, Bulgaria, France and Italy. Luxembourg police officers travelled personally to these countries to support their colleagues on the ground. The result was impressive: three arrests on international warrants, six searches, 17 mobile phones, two laptops, several hard drives, bank cards and documentation were seized. In addition, suspects were interrogated.

Particular attention is being paid to actions in Nice. As early as the end of October, four FAME officers travelled there to conduct searches and seizures at four sites. Digital media, key elements for further analyses of financial flows, were also seized.

The Prosecutor's Office notes that the investigation is ongoing and emphasises the high efficiency of international cooperation. A total of nine people have already been detained in the Caritas case. Two of them were convicted in 2025 on the basis of a "plea agreement". The scandal hit not only the reputation of the foundation, but also the credibility of charitable organisations in general. Caritas has since reformatted into a new structure - HUT Hëllef um Terrain - and continues to operate under a new name.