- The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has dismantled a criminal organization suspected of a €17 million VAT fraud involving luxury cars in Spain.
- 14 searches were conducted in various provinces in Spain, resulting in the arrest of 49 suspects and the seizure of luxury cars, cash, and bank accounts.
- The suspects set up a criminal organization for the purchase and sale of second-hand luxury vehicles between companies in Germany and Portugal.
- Two complex schemes were employed to evade VAT payment, including fraudulently applying Spain’s Special Regime for Used Goods and using fictitious companies for intra-community VAT fraud.
- The vehicles were sold to car dealerships throughout Spain, and some may have been used by other criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking.
- The investigation traced the movement of over €600 million through bank accounts of more than 200 companies.
- The investigation began in 2021 and the offenses committed could also constitute money laundering.
- The EPPO is responsible for investigating and prosecuting crimes against the financial interests of the EU.
Source: eppo.europa.eu
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
