How Lego became the black market’s hottest trade

About this episode

The episode explores how Lego has become a popular currency in the black market and its implications for money laundering.

Just picture it: under the cover of night, police detectives raid a clandestine drug lab in Melbourne belonging to an organised crime gang. But instead of picking through just the usual: beakers, wads of cash and perhaps the unmistakable acetone odour of ICE, they stumble on something else. Boxes upon boxes – upon BOXES – of Lego. Today, senior reporter Chris Vedelago on why your kids’ favourite toy has become the underworld’s new favourite currency, and why it’s so good for laundering dirty money. Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guest: Chris Vedelago

Topics covered

• Lego
• black market
• money laundering
• organized crime
• police raids

Keywords

• Lego
• black market
• money laundering
• organized crime
• police raid

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Age, Sydney Morning Herald

Places: Melbourne

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