The largest Hawala process in Austria: brothers in court!

The largest Hawala process in Austria: brothers in court!

Ottakring, Österreich - At the Vienna Regional Court, a spectacular process began on June 6, 2025, which illuminates the dark sides of one of the oldest money transfer systems in the world: the Hawala system. Against two brothers and the second wife of the older defendant, they are investigated who have operated a restaurant in Vienna-Ottakring. According to Kurier are the accused of Syrian origin and are said to have operated on a large scale in the area of ​​towing.

In the period between August 2021 and the end of March 2024, the accused handled payments for hundreds of tractor trips. In particular, a 41-year-old defendant is considered the “boss” of the restaurant, while his younger brother and his 45-year-old second woman appear as his closest confidants. The indictment accuses the trio of being part of an extensive and illegal network. In the first quarter of the previous year, money couriers transported several million euros in cash on only 21 trips, with part of the money in the 45-year-old's house in Vienna-Floridsdorf.

an old system in the sights of the judiciary

The Hawala system has a long history and works on the basis of trust and personal connections. It enables money transfers without physically moving the money between the two locations. Instead, the transaction takes place via local middle men, the so -called Hawaladare. This mechanism is used according to Bafin often for legal and illegal purposes, including money laundering and terrorism.

deny the two brothers and the second woman to have something to do with the towing. Her defense lawyer points out that the public prosecutor's office primarily wants to target the Hawala system. This claim is regarded by the judiciary as an important aspect of the procedure, since the Hawala system is not illegal per se, but is considered an unauthorized financial transfer business in the EU if it is operated without a corresponding license.

critical consideration of the system

The problems of the Hawala system are diverse. On the one hand, aid organizations such as Welthungerhilfe are used to provide humanitarian aid, such as after taking over the Taliban in Afghanistan. On the other hand, it takes advantage of crime because the lack of documentation of money transfers makes it difficult to uncover. Rumors about illegal business and dubious financial transfers are not uncommon, as numerous reports from Tagesschau

In a world in which money transfers are becoming increasingly complex, the Hawala system remains a double-edged sword. While it ensures survival thousands of people, it is also used by some as an advantageous instrument for criminal machinations. The ongoing process will certainly show to what extent these old traditions still exist in the modern financial world and how the judiciary will handle it.