Today, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, in cooperation with law enforcement agencies of 14 EU Member States, carried out simultaneous investigative measures, including more than 200 searches, in relation to a complex VAT fraud scheme based on the sale of popular electronic goods.

In an investigation into tax evasion on imported fuels, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Palermo, the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) executed a seizure decree on Thursday of assets worth more than €24 million against eight companies, two individual entrepreneurs and 13 suspects.

On 24 November, following a request by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) executed a judicial seizure decree to freeze the bank accounts of an Italian company suspected of fraud involving EU and regional funds of over €70 000.

Today, the European Chief Prosecutor addressed a letter to the European Commission in line with Recital 16 of Regulation (EU) 2020/2092 of 16 December 2020 on a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the Union Budget pointing at Ireland’s refusal to cooperate with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) conducted several searches in the Netherlands today, in an ongoing investigation into a suspected criminal organisation that sells perfumes and electronics online, with the intention of not paying VAT on these sales.

In an investigation led by the European Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) into VAT fraud in luxury cars sales, the Valencia Criminal Police Unit of the Guardia Civil carried out eight searches on Tuesday in Valencia, during which 14 vehicles were seized, including a Rolls Royce, some Mercedes and Audis.

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi held a working meeting today in Luxembourg with Acting Prosecutor General of the Republic of Moldova, Ion Munteanu, and Chief Anticorruption Prosecutor of Moldova, Veronica Dragalin.

The Financial Administration Criminal Office (Kriminálny úrad finančnej správy) in Slovakia has carried out searches and seized electronic devices and accounting documents in an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) into the non-payment of customs taxes on imported goods.

In an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) executed a seizure decree issued by a judge to freeze the bank accounts of an Italian company under investigation for aggravated fraud involving EU funds of up to €230 000.

The European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kövesi today spoke at the Bundestag, the German federal parliament. Laura Kövesi addressed the Legal Affairs Committee.

(Full speech)