Luxury brand Louis Vuitton fined €500,000 in Dutch money laundering case

Prosecutors have fined the Dutch subsidiary of luxury brand Louis Vuitton 500,000 euros for breaching the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act. Louis Vuitton BV emerged as a suspect during a broader money laundering investigation led by the National Public Prosecutor’s Office.

Over a prolonged period, the company did not properly check the identities of customers who repeatedly made large cash purchases. “The case is being resolved through a penalty order to ease pressure on limited courtroom capacity at the Rotterdam District Court,” prosecutors said in a statement.

The investigation originates from a case involving a convicted underworld banker, 53-year-old Thanas B. from Greece, who gathered large amounts of criminal proceeds for laundering. Prosecutors say a 36-year-old woman from Lelystad subsequently used that money to purchase luxury items at shops including Louis Vuitton, using multiple aliases.

Authorities suspect that between August 2021 and February 2023, the woman, identified as Bei W., spent over 2 million euros of illicit funds. She reportedly sent the luxury bags to China in cardboard moving boxes for resale, disguising the proceeds as legitimate commerce.

“This practice, known as ‘Daigou’ trade, is a method of transferring criminal money through luxury items. Evidence includes chat messages, receipts, and security camera footage,” prosecutors stated. Investigators also found boxes in her home prepared for shipment to China.

The scheme was reportedly aided by an insider. A former Louis Vuitton sales assistant is alleged to have helped W. by alerting her to new arrivals of high-end bags and advising her on splitting purchases to avoid triggering legal reporting requirements.

W. employed a deliberate strategy to evade detection, keeping each cash payment just under 10,000 euros, the reporting threshold for retailers to notify the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) until early 2026. She also used multiple aliases and email addresses to conceal her repeated purchases across the four official Louis Vuitton locations in the Netherlands.

From January 1, 2026, Dutch law bars merchants from accepting cash payments of 3,000 euros or higher. Prosecutors stress that luxury brands have the same duty as banks to vet their clients under the country’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing rules (Wwft).

While Louis Vuitton resolved its involvement with a €500,000 fine, the trial against the 36-year-old woman, the former staff member, and a third defendant is still underway at the Rotterdam District Court.