Inside the Shadows: Reporting on a Global Money Laundering Scheme

Investigative reporters Selam Gebrekidan and Joy Dong delve into a convoluted money laundering scheme in Southeast Asia, sharing their experiences and new insights from interviews with involved parties.

In a daring investigation that spans continents, Selam Gebrekidan and Joy Dong of The New York Times shine a light on one of the world's most complex money laundering operations. For months, Gebrekidan, working from her Hong Kong apartment, meticulously mapped out the intricate details of this financial underworld, utilizing a wall covered with handwritten notes and diagrams to visualize the connections and processes involved. This week, the duo unveiled a comprehensive report that details the steps taken by scammers to launder money and evade detection.

“Our goal was to simplify the complexities of the story to make it digestible for our readers,” Gebrekidan stated, reflecting on the challenges of translating the criminal activities into a coherent narrative. Their investigation zeroes in on a specific laundering network operating in Fiji, where a notable surge in scams has coincided with the aftermath of the pandemic.

Their extensive research included direct interviews with multiple scammers and their accomplices, offering a rare glimpse into the operations. “The situation in Fiji was shocking. The ambience was filled with unfinished constructions and neon lights illuminating them at odd hours, prompting questions about who resides in these buildings and their activities,” Gebrekidan recounted during a video conversation from Hong Kong. The stark contrast between the external façade and the hidden operations inside prompted further inquiry, revealing both the lavish lifestyles of some operatives and the desperation of victims involved in the scams.

This eye-opening reporting serves as a crucial reminder of the far-reaching implications of financial crimes that reverberate far beyond their origins.