Tunisia probes ride-hailing apps for money laundering

Tunisia probes ride-hailing apps for money laundering

Tunisia has launched an investigation into alleged money laundering and tax fraud involving ride-hailing applications, the interior ministry said on Monday. The authorities also said they were suspending the apps. "The financial division of the National Guard has uncovered suspicions of money laundering and tax evasion among operators of private taxi ride-hailing apps," the ministry said in a statement. The statement did not name the apps, but a…

Ride-Hailing Under Scrutiny, Why Tunisia Suspended Bolt

In recent years, Tunisia has witnessed a significant transformation in its urban mobility landscape, with ride-hailing services like Bolt emerging as pivotal players. However, recent developments have cast a spotlight on the operations of such services, prompting a closer examination of their role within Tunisia's transport ecosystem.Bolt's Footprint in TunisiaBolt, an Estonia-based ride-hailing company, has established a robust presence in Tuni…

Tunisian authorities have shut down several ride-hailing apps, including Bolt, as part of a wide-ranging investigation into money laundering and tax evasion. According to authorities, these companies operated without licenses, used fake permits, and transferred millions of dollars abroad through undeclared bank accounts. Approximately 12 million dinars ($4 million) have already been seized, and the companies involved have been removed from the T…

Tunisia suspends Bolt and other ride-hailing apps

As someone based in Nigeria, I've witnessed firsthand how ride-hailing apps have transformed urban mobility here and across Africa. In fact, according to Statista, the number of users in the ride-hailing Africa market is expected to reach 268.16m users by 2029.Apps like Bolt, Uber, Yango, inDrive, and others have revolutionized how people move around cities, providing solutions to longstanding transportation challenges. With just a few taps on y…

Tunisia to suspend Bolt for alleged tax evasion, launch state app

Tunisia wants to suspend Bolt, one of the country’s leading ride-hailing apps, over allegations of tax evasion, money laundering, and operating without proper licences. Transport ministry officials said in a statement that they seized 12 million dinars ($3.8 million) from accounts linked to several apps, including Bolt, claiming the funds were illegally transferred abroad. The crackdown comes as Tunisia prepares to launch a state-backed ride-hai…

The Ministry of the Interior suspects these money laundering and tax fraud companies, yet Bolt claims to be acting in accordance with local legislation.