At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Rome (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Pescara carried out searches and seized assets on Tuesday, in an investigation into a €3.7 million fraud scheme to obtain funds intended to support small and medium companies (SMEs), including those affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bologna and Turin (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) and Italy’s Customs and Monopolies Agency (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli) in Florence carried out searches and preventive seizures, and arrested two individuals, as part of an investigation into a €19 million VAT fraud linked to the smuggling of goods from China.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) has filed an indictment against six suspects, including a former public official, following an investigation into fraud involving EU funds intended to boost the employability of young people.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bologna and Naples (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) in Naples carried out preventive seizures today, in an investigation into a €260 million VAT fraud scheme involving a criminal network alleged to have imported fuel to the Italian market while systematically evading VAT.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) has filed an indictment against a public official from Romania’s Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA), for using his position to convince farmers to enter a subsidy fraud scheme, while retaining 92% of the funds. Another individual has also been charged with helping to persuade the farmers and orchestrate the scheme. 

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) has filed an indictment against three individuals for fraud, following an investigation into projects for the modernisation of irrigation systems, supported by the EU. The suspects are accused of unduly receiving €1.2 million.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) has filed an indictment against the former mayor of the city of Sulina (Tulcea County), in a case concerning fraud involving EU funds from the Operational Programme for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bologna (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Prato carried out searches and seized over 2.2 million meters of fabric, documentation and various electronic devices, as part of a customs fraud investigation involving the smuggling of raw material and textile products. 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Lisbon (Portugal), multiple searches are being conducted today in the city of Ourém, in a probe into suspected fraud involving EU funds to support companies’ innovation and sustainability. The companies under investigation are suspected of obtaining the funds using fraudulent information and of activities detrimental to the environment. 

The European Chief Prosecutor, Laura Kövesi, expresses her congratulations to Petr Klement for his appointment as Director-General of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF).