Following a large-scale VAT fraud investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cologne (Germany), code-named ´Huracán´, one individual was convicted this week by the Regional Court in Düsseldorf for VAT fraud. This is the ninth person to be convicted.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Madrid (Spain), eight presumed members of a criminal network, including three suspected ringleaders, were detained yesterday for their alleged involvement in a €68 million VAT fraud scheme linked to imported alcohol from several EU Member States. 

Following an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO)  in Lisbon (Portugal), code-named ‘Ambrosia’, 30 suspects, including 17 individuals and 13 companies, were indicted yesterday for establishing and operating a criminal network responsible for a €35 million VAT tax fraud involving essential food products (namely olive oil, cooking oil and sugar). 

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb (Croatia) has filed an indictment against the former minister of Regional Development and EU Funds (MRRFEU) for abuse of office and authority, as she allegedly paid for private restaurant expenses with EU funds. This follows a thorough investigation that was initiated in December 2023.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Porto (Portugal) has conducted searches in an investigation related to projects for IT acquisition by a public university and secondary schools, funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Luxembourg City, the Luxembourgish Judicial Police (Service de police judiciaire – section EPPO) carried out multiple searches last week, as part of an investigation into suspected fraud involving EU regional development funds for public transport.  

On Wednesday, at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Munich (Germany), one suspect was arrested in Czechia and several searches and seizures took place in Belgium, Czechia and Poland.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Turin (Italy) has secured convictions against 13 defendants, including three ringleaders, in the ‘Greasy Hands’ investigation. The defendants were proven to have operated a criminal organisation that imported vehicle lubricants into the Italian market while systematically evading VAT, resulting in losses exceeding €15 million. 

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Frankfurt (Germany) and Milan (Italy) has dealt a major setback to networks operating cross-border VAT fraud schemes linked to the sales of thousands of second-hand luxury cars, causing estimated losses of €100 million.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb (Croatia) has filed an indictment against two Croatian citizens on suspicion of fraud involving agricultural subsidies.