A coordinated sting by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Naples, Bologna and Rome (Italy) today dismantled a criminal gang alleged to have imported fuel to the Italian market while systematically evading VAT. The investigation, code-named ‘Fuel family’, has led to judicial measures against eight individuals, including the suspected ringleaders.

In an investigation into a complex cross-border VAT fraud involving fuels imported to the Italian market, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Bologna (Italy), assets worth €2.4 million have been seized in Romania.

(Luxembourg, 22 March 2024) – This week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Cluj-Napoca (Romania) submitted a plea agreement to the Iași Tribunal, where a public official has pleaded guilty to aiding a criminal scheme to defraud funds intended to promote employment, with an estimated damage of €1.6 million.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Sofia (Bulgaria) filed an indictment last week (14 March 2024) against one individual, accused of using false documentation to illegally obtain over €220 000 (BGN 445 726.73) in EU and national funds. 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice (Italy), a freezing order of over €2.8 million, issued by the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Treviso, was executed today against four people suspected of fraud involving EU agricultural funding aimed at supporting young farmers. 

In an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice (Italy), four suspects have been convicted of participation in a criminal organisation selling toner cartridges and office supplies at cheap prices, by systematically evading VAT. These are the first convictions in this investigation, code-named ‘Cheap Ink’, which uncovered a massive VAT carousel fraud, with profits estimated at €58 million.

Last week, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Vilnius (Lithuania) filed an indictment against nine individuals and two companies, for fraud involving EU funds to build a retirement home. 

(Luxembourg, 15 March 2024) – In an investigation into textile smuggling led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bologna (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Prato have seized 2.4 million metres of illegally imported fabric, with an estimated value of €3 million.

Yesterday, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) notified the Bucharest Tribunal of an indictment against an individual and a company, on charges related to non-procurement fraud.

This was based on an investigation, conducted by the EPPO, which uncovered evidence of discrepancies regarding funds totalling €920 000, received under a financing contract within the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020. 

Yesterday, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Timișoara and Bucharest (Romania) carried out searches in the city of Arad and in other locations, in a probe into a suspected fraud involving a project funded by the Regional Operational Programme 2014–2020, with over €3 million of non-reimbursable funding from the EU and national sources.