A syndicate in Hong Kong, with links to cryptocurrency and money laundering, moved nearly $154 million in illegal funds before customs authorities shut it down in July. The now-arrested ringleader and three others, using three shell companies, operated electronic accounts that traded in Tether digital tokens — early last year to May this year — before customs authorities got wind of what was happening. The syndicate laundered $113 million [using cryptocurrency](/cryptocurrency/buy/) . An additional $40 million was laundered through eight bank accounts using more conventional methods. Suspicious transaction as the first clue Grace Tang, superintendent, and head of customs’ financial…