An investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Munich has led to the discovery of a VAT carousel fraud scheme involving 21 suspects, with activities in Germany, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the UK. Two of the suspects, who were responsible for organising the paperwork of the criminal activity, are based in Romania and one of them was arrested yesterday.

In an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the Tax Authority in Portugal yesterday executed 21 searches ordered by a judge in the cities of Aveiro, Porto and Lisbon, and arrested three suspects, in an operation code-named ‘Gasosa’.

On 30 November 2022, in an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), police in Czechia – the Regional Directorate of the Olomouc Region – carried out 15 home searches and searches of non-residential premises, on suspicion of criminal offences against the EU’s financial interests, including subsidy fraud and illegal advantage in public procurement.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Vilnius is leading the pre-trial investigation related to the lack of transparency of an EU-funded public procurement project worth €1.7 million. The Special Investigation Service (Specialiųjų tyrimų tarnyba –STT) is carrying out the investigation, and a notification of suspicion to the Mayor of Šiauliai City Municipality was served today.

Since July 2021, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has been running a preliminary investigation into a case of misappropriation of public funds, including aiding and concealment.

Today, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies of 14 EU Member States, carried out simultaneous investigative measures, including more than 200 searches, in relation to a complex VAT fraud scheme based on the sale of popular electronic goods.

In an investigation into tax evasion on imported fuels, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Palermo, the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) executed a seizure decree on Thursday of assets worth more than €24 million against eight companies, two individual entrepreneurs and 13 suspects.

On 24 November, following a request by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) executed a judicial seizure decree to freeze the bank accounts of an Italian company suspected of fraud involving EU and regional funds of over €70 000.

Today, the European Chief Prosecutor addressed a letter to the European Commission in line with Recital 16 of Regulation (EU) 2020/2092 of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union Budget pointing at Ireland’s refusal to cooperate with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) conducted several searches in the Netherlands today, in an ongoing investigation into a suspected criminal organisation that sells perfumes and electronics online, with the intention of not paying VAT on these sales.