Within the framework of an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), and with the support of the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira), searched today private residences, lawyers' offices, accounting firms and customs brokers in the region of Alentejo as well as in Lisbon’s and Oporto’s metropolitan areas.

An investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and the Carabinieri Command for Agri-Food Protection of Messina (Comando dei Carabinieri per la Tutela Agroalimentare di Messina) has led to the seizure of almost €200 000 yesterday (9 March 2022). In addition, the two suspects are not allowed to carry out their business activity, or hold any managerial role, for the period of one year.

​​​​​​​The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) signed today a cooperation agreement with the Italian excise, customs and monopolies agency (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, ADM).

The College of the EPPO has appointed 2 additional European Delegated Prosecutors (EDPs) in Romania

The activity of an organised crime group in Bulgaria is under investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO). On 15 February 2022, four suspects were detained by the police for 24 hours, and their homes and offices were searched. Police forces from the General Directorate Combating Organised Crime within the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior seized a large amount of documents, money in cash (around €11 000), computer servers and mobile phones.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) signed a working arrangement yesterday (10 February 2022) with the Hellenic National Transparency Authority (NTA).

The Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (Agenzia Dogane Monopoli) seized today €130 000 from a Sicilian business in an EPPO investigation. The company based in Palermo imported e-bikes from China and falsely declared the country of origin as Malaysia. By doing so, it evaded the payment of anti-dumping and countervailing duties at the height of €200 000 in total, of which €70 000 had been already recovered before with administrative proceedings.

Since the beginning of 2021, several international criminal groups in Germany and Estonia have been under investigation by the Hanover Customs Investigation Office, instructed by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (Hamburg office). More than 130 individual imports of luxury cars from outside the EU are being investigated, on suspicion of commercial and organised tax evasion.