Spanish police have arrested a 38-year-old man suspected of funneling hundreds of thousands of euros in cryptocurrency to Hamas.

According to details first reported by Reuters, investigators believe the suspect — a Chinese national who owns a hair salon near Barcelona — sent roughly €600,000 ($711,000) in crypto through a web of transfers allegedly linked to Hamas.

Regional police say they identified at least 31 separate cryptocurrency transactions routed to digital addresses believed to be controlled by the group. Authorities declined to say whether the suspect knew the ultimate destination of the funds, a detail that could prove central as prosecutors weigh potential terrorism-financing charges.

Searches of the man’s home and business yielded a striking haul: seized crypto assets, cash, jewelry, computers, mobile phones — and roughly 9,000 cigars. Police also froze the suspect’s bank accounts, bringing the total value of seized and blocked assets to more than €370,000 ($439,000).

The case lands amid concerns in Europe over how terrorist organizations exploit cryptocurrencies to bypass traditional banking controls. All 27 member states of the European Union classify Hamas as a terrorist organization, obligating national authorities to aggressively disrupt its financing networks.

Security officials across the bloc have warned that while crypto transfers remain traceable, the speed and borderless nature of digital assets make enforcement a constant game of catch-up.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)