- Seven individuals and three companies in Czechia have been charged with VAT fraud worth over €50 million.
- The suspects operated as members of an organized crime group and imported goods from China to evade VAT.
- They falsely declared that the goods would be exported to other EU Member States to exempt themselves from paying VAT.
- The goods were secretly shipped to warehouses in the EU and sold on an online marketplace without VAT payment.
- The suspects caused damage of €50,395,618.
- During the action day, three individuals were arrested, and goods, cars, watches, cash, and bank accounts were seized.
- If convicted, the defendants could face up to 13 years of imprisonment.
- The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (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.
