- EPPO seized assets worth €20 million from a criminal gang involved in VAT fraud in Italy.
- Seized assets include a resort, over 150 properties, company offices, vehicles, and cash.
- The investigation, named ‘Fuel family’, targeted a gang importing fuel and evading VAT.
- The gang used a network of missing traders in Italy to avoid tax obligations.
- Fraudulent activities generated invoices for over €1 billion, causing €260 million in unpaid VAT.
- The group is suspected of laundering over €35 million through companies in Hungary and Romania.
- The VAT evasion allowed the group to sell fuel at low prices, affecting market competition.
- All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in Italian courts.
- EPPO is responsible for prosecuting crimes against the EU’s financial interests.
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.
