(Luxembourg, 23 April 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bologna, Naples and Rome (Italy) today seized assets worth €20 million, including a tourism resort and over 150 properties, following an investigation code-named ‘Fuel family’ into a criminal gang alleged to have imported fuel to the Italian market while systematically evading VAT.
At the request of the EPPO, the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) in Piacenza seized an exclusive bathing resort, located in the province of Liguria; six high-value properties, located in the province of Piacenza; and 66 buildings and warehouses, as well as 77 plots of land, located in the provinces of Alessandria, Brindisi, Cuneo, Milan, Novara, Piacenza and the municipality of Chiavari. In addition, law enforcement agents seized eight company offices, located in Milan and Piacenza, and company shares. Nine vehicles (including six luxury cars), three motorbikes and cash were also seized, and bank accounts were frozen.
Earlier in this investigation, in March 2024, a criminal group was dismantled, involving 59 suspects and 13 companies. Judicial measures were ordered against eight individuals, including the suspected ringleaders. Thanks to the investigation, assets belonging to the criminal syndicate were now identified and seized.
At the heart of the criminal scheme, according to the investigation, is a criminal association, whose members are sometimes linked by family ties, operating a massive VAT fraud in the fuel trading sector, with branches in Italy and abroad. According to the investigation, the fuel was imported from suppliers located in Croatia and Slovenia, as well as other countries, using a chain of more than 40 missing traders in Italy, which would vanish without fulfilling their tax obligations.
Based on the evidence, the fraudulent activities generated invoices for simulated transactions amounting to over €1 billion, causing an estimated damage of around €260 million in unpaid VAT. The criminal group is also suspected of laundering over €35 million of the illicit proceeds, using bank accounts of companies located in Hungary and Romania. This money would ultimately be handed over in cash to the perpetrators of the fraud, following systematic bank withdrawals.
The VAT evasion also allowed the group to resell the fuel at extremely advantageous prices, distorting the principles of fair competition on the market.
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.