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The Caritas fraud probe has now seen 19 arrests across several countries, as the investigation into the embezzlement of €61 million

Nineteen people have now been arrested worldwide in connection with the investigation into the embezzlement of €61 million from the Caritas Foundation, the Luxembourg public prosecutor's office announced on Friday. According to the press release, the investigation has entered a fourth phase. Investigators initially examined the scale of the losses and activities in Luxembourg before turning to Spanish bank accounts allegedly used to launder the money. This led to the arrest and charging of the foundation's former financial director and nine suspected money mules, the press release stated.

The prosecutor's office said coordinated operations in England, Bulgaria, France, and Italy subsequently resulted in three European arrest warrants being executed. One suspect has been transferred to Luxembourg, while surrender proceedings remain ongoing for the other two.

As indicated in the release, a 41-year-old woman arrested in Rome in early June is suspected of playing a central role in laundering the embezzled funds. A further suspect arrested in France has already been extradited to Luxembourg and formally charged, the prosecutor's office stated. Luxembourg officers also assisted French police in Nice on 17 June with three additional European arrest warrants. The prosecutor's office said the investigation had benefited from cooperation with foreign authorities, Eurojust and the Financial Intelligence Unit.

Two further suspects linked to the fraud or alleged laundering network are currently being held for unrelated reasons in Spain and France, according to the press release. Since the judicial investigation began, the investigating judge has issued 81 requests for international legal assistance across 17 countries, while 93 police reports have been submitted. The investigation remains ongoing. The prosecutor's office stressed that all those arrested or implicated are presumed innocent until convicted by a final court judgment.

Also today

• Police are searching for missing 16-year-old Emma Steines-Libert, who was last seen yesterday
• With Luxembourg's Covid law set to expire on 30 June, the government is under pressure to clarify where masks can be worn.
• The number of fatalities due to road accidents in Luxembourg was significantly higher in 2025 than in 2024
• Italy has reacted angrily after reported comments by US President Donald Trump mocking Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with the foreign minister cancelling a planned US visit.
• Israel and Hezbollah have agreed to a ceasefire today, after deadly exchanges between the two sides threatened to end the new peace deal.
• The fatal Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading rapidly, the World Health Organization warned today

On air

Tom Jones tickets to be won! Strap in for a weekend packed with World Cup games! And the Fête de la musique will be all over Luxembourg!

Figure of the day

Authorities probe Kindy Fritsch over financial offences worth €200 million

• Grandson of Cactus founder Kindy Fritsch, associates, and linked companies are being investigated over suspected offences with reported damages upwards of €200 million.
• Recently released documents show that several companies linked to Fritsch have also entered bankruptcy or restructuring, reportedly owing millions of euros to other firms.
  Fritsch's lawyer described the searches and seizures as disproportionate and harmful to the rights of those concerned, denying all allegations.

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