(Luxembourg, 14 January 2025) – Yesterday, at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Rotterdam (Netherlands), four suspects were arrested in Rotterdam and Zevenhuizen, on suspicion of large-scale customs fraud involving bicycles imported from China. The four are suspected of systematically undervaluing the goods and falsely declaring their origin, causing an estimated damage of approximately €7.2 million.
At the EPPO’s request, the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) of the Netherlands also carried out searches at the suspects’ homes and at four business premises in Andelst, Rotterdam, Waddinxveen and Zaandam. Law enforcement seized three houses, six cars, cash and two cryptocurrency accounts and froze five bank accounts, all worth an estimated €9 million. One of the bank accounts was frozen in Germany and one of the cryptocurrency accounts was seized in Ireland. Physical and digital documentation was also seized.
According to the investigation, the suspects made 380 incorrect import declarations, by declaring a lower value of the bicycles to customs and by falsely declaring the origin of the goods – thereby evading the payment of a significant share of the import and anti-dumping duties.
All persons involved are presumed innocent until proven guilty by the competent Dutch courts of law.
The 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.