Criminal gangs use Pokémon cards to launder money, police say

Individual Pokémon cards can today be sold for tens of thousands of kronor on the secondary market.

We have found larger quantities of Pokémon cards in several investigations recently and we have also had several thefts of valuable cards in the region, says Tamara Fuentes.

There is much evidence that the cards are being used to launder money.

– Trading is taking place unregulated on buying and selling sites, which gives criminals the opportunity to make private transactions without receipts.

Tamara Fuentes says that criminals have also been stopped with Pokémon cards at border crossings.

They are easy to carry around, she says.

Thefts have also been reported in other countries, including France and Denmark.

Last year, Pokémon cards worth over one million kronor were stolen from stores in Varberg and Torslanda. A man was sentenced to one year and six months in prison for the theft.

We urge holders of valuable cards to be extra vigilant and ask questions of the buyer, especially if the purchase is to be made with cash, says Tamara Fuentes.