Ten searches were conducted yesterday and four individuals were detained in a criminal investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Lithuania, and carried out by the Financial Crime Investigation Service (Finansinių nusikaltimų tyrimo tarnyba – FNTT), into an alleged €136 000 fraud involving EU rural development funds.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Vilnius (Lithuania) has filed an indictment with the Vilnius District Court against a Lithuanian citizen and an NGO, for subsidy fraud in connection with an EU-funded project aimed at providing mobile car repair and maintenance services in rural areas.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Lisbon (Portugal), searches were carried out this week in Cabo Verde, related to potential money laundering of fraud’s proceeds in connection to ‘Investigation Ambrosia’. 

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Madrid (Spain) seized bank accounts in the Dominican Republic and Peru, and obtained information from Uruguay, in connection with an investigation into a €25 million VAT fraud involving the trade of IT equipment, orchestrated by a criminal organisation whose outreach extends to Latin America. 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Treviso carried out searches and seized assets worth up to €486 000, in connection with an investigation into suspected subsidy fraud, embezzlement of public funds, and money laundering.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Palermo carried out extensive searches this week (22 July), uncovering one of the largest illegal cigarette production facilities in Europe.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Vilnius (Lithuania) filed an indictment today in the Šiauliai regional court against the mayor of Šiauliai city and two others for attempted subsidy fraud in connection with EU-funded street lighting. 

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb has filed an indictment against two former public officials of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs for abuse of position and authority, in connection with fraud involving accommodation expenses.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Munich (Germany) has secured another conviction in the EPPO investigation cluster Midas, a large-scale VAT fraud case spanning 17 countries and involving an estimated damage of €195 million. This is the fourth person to be convicted.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Katowice (Poland), police officers arrested six suspects and carried out dozens of searches in connection with an investigation into members of a religious group suspected of fraudulently selling food destined for refugees and most deprived persons, funded by the EU.