Police in 26 countries have arrested 1,013 individuals suspected of having moved money derived from illegal activities in exchange for petty cash. This marks the largest international operation targeting so-called money mules, the European Union's law enforcement agency, Europol, said on Monday.

Thousands of youngsters are being manipulated by criminals into shifting cash between accounts in exchange for some pocket money, effectively acting as “money mules,” U.K. officials warned.