Italy: EPPO seizes over €23.5 million in investigation into VAT fraud in the fuel sector

(Luxembourg, 1 July 2026) – On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Milan (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) and the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli) seized assets worth over €23.5 million, in an investigation into a VAT fraud scheme involving imported fuel to the Italian market.

At the request of the EPPO, the Judge for Preliminary Investigations at the Court of Milan issued an order to seize assets worth up to €60 million to secure compensation for the alleged damage. On Tuesday, properties in Lombardy, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta worth approximately €13.5 million were seized, as well as bank accounts containing around €10 million, and several vehicles. Efforts to identify and seize additional assets are ongoing.

The investigation uncovered a complex fraudulent scheme operated by an authorised excise warehouse for petroleum products located in the province of Milan, which placed more than 188 million litres of diesel and petrol on the market without paying the applicable taxes. In particular, it is understood that the warehouse improperly made use of the scheme under which VAT is paid when goods are removed from a VAT warehouse, based on an estimate of the quantities intended for subsequent sale.

This enabled the suspects to sell petroleum products at significantly below-market prices, both through their network of distributors (unbranded fuel stations) and through sales to other operators, thereby significantly distorting competition.

Based on the evidence, the scheme resulted in fraudulent VAT returns for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 in the oil sector, amounting to an estimated damage of €60 million.

All persons concerned are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (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.