(Luxembourg, 5 June 2026) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Bologna, Turin and Palermo (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Prato has seized additional assets worth over €6 million, as part of an investigation into a suspected VAT carousel fraud involving luxury vehicles.
Law enforcement carried out 16 searches in the residence of the suspects and companies under investigation, in the provinces of Rome, Naples, Vibo Valentia, Palermo and Catania, and arrested two individuals. Coercive measures were applied to five additional suspects, including house arrest for two of them, prohibition on acting as managers or board members of commercial companies for four of them, obligations to remain at their place of residence and regular reporting to the police. Assets linked to six companies under investigation have been seized, including 61 vehicles, as well as high-end jewellery, luxury watches and phones. In addition, 10 bank accounts belonging to the suspects were also frozen, including in foreign countries.
Earlier in this investigation, the EPPO had already seized assets worth approximately €5 million, raising the amount of seized assets to €11 million.
The investigation concerns a criminal network suspected of organising an intra-community 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 (VAT).
Between 2019 and 2024, the suspects allegedly imported more than 1 700 vehicles from Germany to Italy without paying VAT by systematically issuing and using false invoices through shell companies registered under strawmen. By doing so, they are believed to have avoided VAT payments amounting to over €42.8 million, enabling them to sell vehicles at abnormally competitive prices.
All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian 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.