In the context of a large-scale investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece), several house searches, arrests and seizures have taken place, in a probe into an alleged criminal organisation suspected of a €36.4 million VAT fraud and a €9.6 million EU subsidy fraud.

On Monday (4 December), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Luxembourg City and Frankfurt am Main led searches in Luxembourg and Germany, in an action targeting a criminal group suspected of a VAT fraud. In addition, 17 bank accounts, cash, gold and cryptocurrencies have been seized.

On 22 November 2023, 59 searches and other investigative measures were carried out in eight countries, in an action targeting criminal groups under investigation for an €85 million VAT fraud, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Hamburg (Germany). One of the alleged ringleaders of the criminal groups under investigation was arrested.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Madrid (Spain), 13 searches were conducted and 24 people were arrested this week, in a probe into a €25 million VAT fraud orchestrated by an organised crime group with a reach extending to Latin America.

Two people have been arrested this week at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Athens (Greece) and Cologne (Germany) and 42 searches were carried out in those countries as part of an investigation into a suspected cross border organised crime group. The group is understood to have orchestrated a €30.7 million VAT fraud involving small electronic devices.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) today conducted searches in the Netherlands and seized assets, in an investigation into a suspected VAT carousel fraud involving consumer electronics.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Berlin (Germany) has filed an indictment against eight suspects in connection with a VAT fraud scheme involving the trade of luxury cars and medical face masks, with an estimated damage of €80 million.

On 14 and 19 June 2023, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) carried out 27 searches in France and the Netherlands, in an investigation into VAT fraud involving car sales, with an estimated damage of €19 million. Four suspects were arrested and dozens of cars seized, as well as more than €1 million in cash.

More than 2000 tax, customs and police investigators in seven countries (Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) are currently carrying out an action day with over 450 searches, as well as seizures of real estate and luxury cars. Five people were arrested today, 14 June 2023. 

On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) – Provincial Command of Piacenza have arrested the suspected ringleader of a VAT fraud scheme involving several countries, with estimated losses of €28 million.