(Luxembourg, 27 June 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Munich (Germany) is leading an investigation into a suspected €10 million cross-border VAT carousel fraud scheme. Three additional suspects were arrested this week in Lisbon (Portugal).
The Tax Investigation Office in Leipzig (Steuerfahndung Leipzig), supported by the Tax Action Unit of Portugal’s National Guard in Lisbon (Unidade de Ação Fiscal DAF Lisboa) arrested three suspects and searched their respective homes in Lisbon on Monday (23 June).
The suspects are believed to be members of an organised crime group, responsible for a cross-border VAT carousel fraud – a complex criminal scheme that takes advantage of EU rules on cross-border transactions between its Member States, as these are exempt from value-added tax.
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent German courts of law.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting, and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.