Several EU members states have hurriedly instituted internal border checks at their national frontiers this year, with their adjacent Schengen Zone neighbors, due primarily to domestic political pressure.They are seeking to control illegal immigration, the arrival of Islamic terrorists, transnational organized crime, increased risks due to wars in the Ukraine and the Middle East, and other emerging threats to domestic stability. Temporary measures are authorized, for national security reasons, as exceptions to the Schengen Agreement. Germany and seven other Schengen signatories are currently operating border controls.
Given that a significant number of arrests have been made, in the United States and elsewhere, of Chinese money launderers, financial criminals, and suspected intelligence agents and industrial spies, all holding Citizenship by Investment (CBI/CIP) passports issued by East Caribbean states, especially Saint Kitts & Nevis, and Saint Lucia, sold at illegal discounts by two Chinese companies, you must assume that a number of these career criminals have used these identity documents to enter the EU, visa-free, and are currently working inside Europe.
When they cross national borders within the Schengen Zone, they will now find themselves subject to border checks, Remember, many of them are not fluent in English, which will raise suspicions among the border police. What about that load of dirty cash or suspicious financial instruments concealed in their automobile? If they are barred from entry, border guards noting that they have just been refused admission next door, and are being returned, may choose to detain them and their transport. You can venture a guess about what will eventually happen.
Whether the Schengen Agreement is itself in jeopardy in the Europe has been a matter of debate in recent months. Should it be abolished, Money laundering through the smuggling of bulk cash or financial instruments will become more difficult, as well as dangerous, as I can testify to from personal experience during the pre-Schengen period, but that's a discussion to be had if and only if Europe decides to turn turn the clock back, for national security reasons. Right now, I am looking to see just how many Chinese money launderers are caught in the act, at some obscure border, where they least expected it to happen.
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