(Luxembourg, 5 December 2025) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Sofia (Bulgaria), more than 80 searches and investigative measures are being carried out since yesterday in the country, in an investigation into cross-border VAT fraud, causing an estimated damage of over €13 million. Six Bulgarian citizens were arrested.
The searches were carried out in nine cities, including Sofia, Haskovo, Plovdiv, Ruse, Dobrich, Vratsa, Dimitrovgrad, Kozloduy and Mizia, by the General Directorate for Combatting Organized Crime (Главна дирекция “Борба с организираната престъпност“), with the support of Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security (Държавна Агенция “Национална сигурност“).
Documents and evidence were seized, as well as mobile phones, golden coins and medals for investment, and over €255 000 (BGN 500 000) in cash.
On the radar of the EPPO is a criminal group active since 2019, operating a VAT carousel fraud scheme – 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). The scheme under investigation aimed at establishing and exercising control over ‘missing trader’ companies. Through more than 60 companies established in Bulgaria, Greece and Romania, fictitious commercial transactions were declared, in order to claim VAT refunds from the national tax authorities, to which the suspects were not entitled – since the supposed suppliers, also controlled by the group, had disappeared, without making any payments.
One of the schemes involved simulated trading in animal feed, generating a total turnover of more than €51 million (BGN 100 million). Another scheme involved fake deliveries of goods in the construction sector.
The damage caused as a result of the activities under investigation is estimated at €13.2 million.
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Bulgarian 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.