On 14 and 19 June 2023, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) carried out 27 searches in France and the Netherlands, in an investigation into VAT fraud involving car sales, with an estimated damage of €19 million. Four suspects were arrested and dozens of cars seized, as well as more than €1 million in cash.

Three people have been charged with subsidy and procurement fraud, in an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Zlín (Czechia) into suspected manipulation of a public contract at the National History Museum in Olomouc. The defendants are a public official who worked for the museum and another two former employees.

In an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Prague (Czechia), three companies and 13 individuals have been charged with subsidy fraud involving the acquisition of manufacturing machinery, with estimated damages of up to €3 million.

Three individuals and one company have been charged with subsidy fraud involving a disinfectant production facility, in an investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Liberec (Czechia), with an estimated damage of up to €800 000.

More than 2000 tax, customs and police investigators in seven countries (Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain) are currently carrying out an action day with over 450 searches, as well as seizures of real estate and luxury cars. Five people were arrested today, 14 June 2023. 

On 9 June 2023, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) submitted a plea agreement to the court of Bucharest (Romania), where the mayor of the commune of Tigveni (Argeș County) admits to having committed subsidy fraud prior to his mandate.

On 7 June 2023, two companies and two of their managers were convicted by the Regional court in Ostrava (Czechia) of subsidy fraud, following an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) into an employee-training project.

Last week, on 31 May 2023, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zlín (Czechia), in cooperation with the Czech police, brought charges against two individuals and one association, for subsidy fraud involving the construction of social housing for the elderly.

On 7 and 8 June 2023, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Paris (France) carried out seizures and arrested three people suspected of involvement in a Europe-wide VAT fraud concerning the sale of second-hand vehicles.

On behalf of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) – Provincial Command of Piacenza have arrested the suspected ringleader of a VAT fraud scheme involving several countries, with estimated losses of €28 million.