Unsuspecting victims left with tax debt after money laundering attempt

Danish citizens are left with staggering, unjustified tax debts after a money laundering scheme allegedly operated through a currency exchange office. TV 2's "Operation X" program exposed how individuals like Mhreteab Gebreselasie received demands for millions in taxes, accused of sending undeclared funds abroad.

Gebreselasie, for instance, was told he owed 5.6 million kroner after the Danish Tax Agency believed he had transferred 9 million kroner out of the country without paying taxes. While he had sent money to his brother in Eritrea, the amount was significantly less than alleged. Police suspect identity theft, with the currency exchange office implicated in laundering approximately one billion kroner through fraudulent transfers.

Compounding the distress, the Danish Tax Agency was aware of the police investigation into the matter since February 2023. Nevertheless, the tax bills remained active, and many debts were subsequently sent to the Debt Collection Agency. Only in April of this year, following a letter from Copenhagen Police, did the agency initiate a review of these cases. "We had to await the conclusion of Copenhagen Police in these cases, and then we started reassessing them – exactly as we should," stated Deputy Director Søren Have Enevoldsen to TV 2. The Tax Agency has since informed TV2 that 60 individuals with similar cases will have their situations re-evaluated, leading to a write-down of 85 million kroner in collective debt.

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We had to await the conclusion of Copenhagen Police in these cases, and then we started reassessing them – exactly as we should.