News

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy), a freezing order of over €442 000, issued by the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Catania, was executed today against three individuals associated with an agricultural business operating in the province of Catania, suspected of fraud involving EU agricultural funds.

Under the supervision of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Vilnius (Lithuania), Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service (Finansinių nusikaltimų tyrimo tarnyba – FNTT) is investigating possible fraud and forgery in the procurement of night-vision devices for the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service, aimed at better protecting the EU’s external border with Belarus. Suspicions have been brought against four individuals and two companies.

On 14 October 2022, while receiving an exceptionally high number of reports and complaints, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) confirmed that it was investigating the acquisition of COVID-19 vaccines in the European Union. No further details can be made public about this ongoing investigation, in order not to endanger its outcome.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb (Croatia) has filed an indictment against two Croatian citizens for subsidy fraud and document forgery, following an investigation into three projects co-financed by the EU, including the construction of a greenhouse. 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Milan (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) have arrested the suspected ringleader of a complex tax fraud involving the sale of cosmetics. Over €3.6 million is being seized, pursuant to an order by the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Rome.

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Rome and Turin (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Rome are currently arresting eleven suspects and seizing assets worth up to €25 million, in an investigation into a VAT fraud involving the sale of electronic goods.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) carried out five searches yesterday in the Romanian capital, as part of an investigation into an €8 million fraud involving EU funds for the purchase of medical equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Investigation ‘Greasy Hands’, led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Turin (Italy), is targeting a criminal organisation alleged to have imported vehicle lubricants to the Italian market while systematically evading VAT, causing a loss of over €15 million. 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb (Croatia), a former Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Culture and Media, currently Chief Conservator at the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, was arrested today on suspicion of corruption, in an investigation into the Faculty of Geodesy of the University of Zagreb. The former dean of the Faculty of Geodesy and a former professor at the same faculty were also arrested today.