News

In an extensive operation carried out today, 21 March 2023, against a criminal group based in Naples (Italy), believed to have orchestrated a massive VAT fraud through the sales of electronic equipment, 12 people were arrested by the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza), including four public officials, for corruption offences. 

Two suspects have been arrested in the Netherlands this morning, 16 March 2023, on suspicion of committing fraud in order to obtain EU subsidies amounting to €500 000.  The arrests took place in Eindhoven and Roermond, and were made by the Netherlands Labour Authority (Arbeidsinspectie), at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

On 6 March 2023, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) decided to dismiss the proceedings concerning the contract for the supply of 250 000 FFP2-3 masks for a total amount of €1 512 500, awarded by the Madrid Health Service (SERMAS:Servicio Madrileño de Salud de la Comunidad de Madrid).

Last Thursday (9 March 2023), following an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest, three suspects were caught in the act when receiving around €70 000 (RON 350 000) in cash as part of the profit of their supposed fraud.

Today, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Riga (Latvia) referred a criminal case to court, in which two persons were indicted for fraud involving EU agricultural funds.

As part of an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Lisbon (Portugal), the Portuguese Judiciary Police (Polícia Judiciária) is carrying out searches today in the municipality of Reguengos de Monsaraz, on suspicion of fraud involving EU funds to the amount of €880 000.

Meetings like this one help shape a common understanding of the situation. Our Ukrainian friends have the necessary willpower, but the strength of their resistance to the Russian aggression depends widely on our support.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) have executed a seizure order on Wednesday, 1 March, against a farmer suspected of fraud involving agricultural funds, with estimated damages of €600 000.

Two suspects – an employee of the Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments (HAMAG BICRO) and the owner of a graphic design business – have been indicted for unlawful favouritism and incitement to unlawful favouritism, following an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb.

The Annual Report for the activities of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in 2022 shows a clear focus on EU fraud affecting public revenue, in particular cross-border VAT fraud. By the end of 2022, the EPPO had 1117 active investigations with overall estimated damages of €14.1 billion, nearly half of which (47%) resulted from VAT fraud.