On Tuesday, 24 January, the Central Criminal Judge of Spain sentenced two defendants in a simplified procedure in relation to offences of agricultural subsidy fraud and forgery of documents. One of the defendants was convicted of subsidy fraud and forgery of documents, with a suspended term of imprisonment of 6 months and a fine of €4 000.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Naples (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Salerno seized over €160 000 on 26 January, as part of an investigation into possible fraud involving EU agricultural funds.

In an operation code-named ‘Cheap Ink’, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice (Italy) today detained 18 suspects, believed to be part of a criminal organisation selling office supplies at cheap prices by fraudulently avoiding VAT payment, with profits estimated at €58 million.