Coordinated Enforcement Action in the Balkans
In June 2019, law enforcement authorities in Germany and Kosovo conducted a coordinated enforcement operation targeting individuals suspected of involvement in international money laundering schemes. As reported by local media such as Gazeta Blic, the suspects — Betim Tasholli (31), Azem Spahiu (26), and Egzontin Murturi (31) — were summoned for questioning by Kosovan authorities.
During the operation:
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Offices and residential properties were searched
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Dozens of physical files were reportedly seized
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Bank accounts were frozen, and
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Eight real estate properties were confiscated
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Additionally, luxury items, including a Porsche and expensive watches, were recovered
Ties to Veltyco and Uwe Lenhoff
According to sources interviewed by Scam-or Project, all three suspects are linked to Uwe Lenhoff, the arrested founder of Veltyco Group PLC, and were reportedly involved in operating the group’s Balkan branch. The suspects are also registered as shareholders in Silkline Group shpk, a Kosovo-based Veltyco subsidiary.
Insider information suggests that Lenhoff may have cooperated with authorities, potentially providing intelligence on former partners, including Tasholli. This aligns with ongoing investigations in Austria, Germany, Serbia, and Kosovo, which view Lenhoff as a central figure in a cross-border financial crime network.
Banking Links and Montenegro’s Atlas Banka
Lenhoff’s operations in the Balkans allegedly included collaboration with Atlas Banka, a Montenegro-based financial institution led by Dusko Knezevic (Wikipedia), now under investigation for laundering up to €500 million. The bank has since been shuttered by regulators. An arrest warrant has been issued for Knezevic, who is currently residing in London.
Knezevic confirmed his past business dealings with Uwe Lenhoff, Gal Barak, and related entities.
Political Connections and Public Donations
Reports in Kosovan newspapers also note that Betim Tasholli has cultivated ties with local political figures. He is said to have donated €10,000 to Labinot Tahiri, a member of Kosovo’s ruling AKR party. Tahiri confirmed the donation to media outlets and stated that the funds were intended for charitable use.
Tasholli’s Role in the Veltyco Network
Tasholli served as a key regional operator within the Veltyco structure. According to records and testimony reviewed by Scam-or Project, he managed Silkline Group shpk, which was involved in operating boiler rooms in Pristina. These call centers were used to promote and run fraudulent broker platforms such as:
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Option888
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XMarkets
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TradoVest
Furthermore, Lenhoff claimed that Tasholli was a shareholder in Lensing Management Ltd, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands that held a substantial stake in Veltyco Group PLC, listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM segment.
Criminal Enterprise Allegations
The breadth and depth of the network surrounding Veltyco Group PLC have led many observers to conclude that the operation functioned as a criminal organization. Daily developments and new discoveries across multiple jurisdictions support this assessment.
Beyond Europe and the Balkans, investigators have traced activity to Asia, including Singapore, where CryptoDaily — a local platform — was allegedly used to move funds linked to Lenhoff’s online investment schemes.
Learn more: The Singapore Connection – Veltyco, Lenhoff, and CryptoDaily
Accounting Irregularities and Ongoing Investigations
In a notable development, a former accounting firm in Malta, once engaged by Veltyco, reportedly submitted internal documentation to local regulators. Staff involved at the time believed that Veltyco’s financial statements and ledgers had been manipulated.
Several major shareholders of Veltyco have since been named in ongoing investigations across Europe. These individuals are being probed for their potential involvement in financial crime and fraud linked to the company.
Looking Ahead
Authorities across jurisdictions continue to examine the full extent of Veltyco’s operations. With mounting evidence and asset seizures in Kosovo, the investigation is entering a more decisive phase. The network, once obscured behind complex structures and offshores, is now under sustained legal and regulatory scrutiny.
Scam-or Project will continue to monitor and report developments as new information becomes available.