Italian police caught three OneCoin promoters red-handed at an airport with nearly 118,000 euros in cash, busting what investigators say was a sophisticated scam operation spanning the country.
The arrests happened at Orio al Serio International Airport as the suspects tried to leave Italy following a OneCoin recruitment event held in Verona over the past few days. Officers discovered the three were carrying 117,840 euros—money prosecutors say came directly from illegal OneCoin investments at the gathering.
OneCoin has been banned in Italy since 2017. That year, Italian authorities slapped the operation with a 2.5 million euro fine for non-compliance. The scheme, a textbook Ponzi operation, has since gone underground but never stopped operating.
The Verona event was promoted through a Facebook group called "IMA – Italia Indipendent Marketing Association Italia" and organized by Simon Le, Habib Zahid, and Italian promoter Luca Miatton. The group's leadership included Marco Agnelli, Nicola Giarcuni, Renato Zin, Patrizia Testagrossa, Alessio Mitta Miatoon, G Nithihayah Oliva, and Marco Barbagello.
Prosecutors in Rome revealed they've been investigating six OneCoin promoters across the country. The group ranges in age from 23 to 52 years old and includes a lawyer representing a Roman business training company. All were actively recruiting in northeastern Italy, according to the investigation coordinated by Rome's Public Prosecutor's Office.
Italian authorities have not released the names of the three arrested at the airport. However, investigators note it would be unlikely for local promoters to attempt leaving the country, suggesting international operators like Le and Zahid may be among those detained.
Beyond the arrests, authorities seized over one hundred websites and social media accounts tied to OneCoin. The digital purge appears aimed at cutting off the scam's recruitment pipeline, which has proven resilient despite years of enforcement action.
The operation underscores how OneCoin continues to function in fragments across Europe, even in countries where it faces active prosecution. The scheme has bilked investors out of billions globally since its launch, yet local cells keep recruiting new victims using updated tactics and decentralized networks.
🤖 Quick Answer
What happened at Orio al Serio International Airport regarding OneCoin promoters?Italian police arrested three OneCoin promoters at the airport while attempting to leave Italy. Officers discovered they were carrying 117,840 euros in cash, proceeds from illegal OneCoin investments collected during a recruitment event held in Verona.
Why has OneCoin been prohibited in Italy?
Italian authorities banned OneCoin in 2017, identifying it as a Ponzi scheme operating illegally. The operation was fined 2.5 million euros for non-compliance. Despite the ban, the scheme continued operating clandestinely across the country.
How does OneCoin operate as a fraudulent scheme?
OneCoin functions as a Ponzi scheme, generating revenue primarily through recruitment rather than legitimate business activities. Participants invest money expecting returns, with funds deriving from new recruits rather than actual product value
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