4 months Ago
Luxury Goods Bought in Cash, Sent to China
According to the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM), women were purchasing high-end Louis Vuitton bags and clothing using large amounts of cash, then shipping the items to China. Investigators suspect the brand allowed these transactions to occur without raising any alarms or requesting customer identification, which is required under anti-money laundering regulations.
The central figure in the case is Bei W., a Chinese woman living in Lelystad. She allegedly received large sums of cash from an underground banker and used the money to shop at Louis Vuitton stores throughout the Netherlands. She reportedly made purchases under various names.
An employee of one Louis Vuitton store is suspected of assisting Bei W. by informing her of new bag models and ensuring her transactions stayed below the €10,000 threshold—the amount at which cash transactions must be officially reported.
Designer Goods Found at Home and Shipping Centres
Police searched Bei W.'s home in 2023 and discovered large quantities of Louis Vuitton items stored in boxes. More boxes of designer bags were found at a DHL sorting facility, ready to be shipped to China and Hong Kong.
Bei W. appeared in court for a preliminary hearing last week. Her case is expected to proceed next year. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether Louis Vuitton will face formal charges for allegedly facilitating money laundering. The company has not responded publicly to the investigation.
