News

In November 2021, six people were arrested in Czechia, Romania and Slovakia on suspicion of forming a criminal organisation. One of these suspects was convicted in April 2022, and this week two more suspects were convicted by the Munich I Regional Court (Landgericht München I).

Thirty years ago, Giovanni Falcone was killed in Palermo. The assassination of this outstanding prosecutor – as well as many other magistrates, police officers, civil servants and activists – was meant to instil fear, to discourage anyone from fighting organised crime.

German law enforcement authorities, at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), conducted several searches this morning, 12 May 2022, in an investigation into missing trader VAT fraud with estimated tax loss damages of more than €40 million. The suspects are alleged to have participated in a VAT carousel fraud scheme organised throughout Europe, which had the aim of falsely claiming input tax deductions based on fictitious intra-community sales of luxury cars and medical face masks.

An order to seize assets worth more than €8.5 million from seven companies in the China Wholesale Center of Padua, a distribution hub of goods of East Asian origin, has been executed by the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) in an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

Following the decision to evoke the national criminal case, and having conducted the investigation, the European Public Prosecutor's Office in the Republic of Croatia has filed indictment against an owner of a family farm.

As part of an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza di Vicenza) today seized €470 000 in financial assets from a company based in Vicenza (Italy).

Ten locations in Bucharest, Ilfov and Giurgiu regions in Romania were searched today, 28 April 2022, at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The searches were conducted as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged fraud concerning European funds of more than €3 million, with links to Cyprus, Portugal and Spain.

It is suspected, in this case, that the beneficiary of a project financed by European funds illegally obtained the funds to the amount of €3 073 646.35 (14 440 459.60 RON, non-reimbursable funds) between September 2018 and January 2020, following the use of false and inaccurate documents and statements.

The Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) and the Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) in Venice seized yesterday (21 April) over € 2 million in financial assets in an investigation launched by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). The Venetian company under investigation, which produces and markets bicycles, supposedly evaded the payment of anti-dumping and customs duties by importing complete e-bikes of Chinese origin in parts.