At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Venice (Italy), two individuals were arrested today in Italy, on suspicion of orchestrating an €8.8 million VAT fraud involving the trade of cleaning products and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Verona also executed a freezing order, at the EPPO’s request, targeting bank accounts, real estate and other assets.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) has initiated a criminal action against four individuals, in an investigation into a €600 000 fraud involving EU funds intended to support job opportunities for the unemployed.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Timișoara (Romania) has accused five individuals of aggravated subsidy fraud, forgery of private documents and intellectual forgery, with an estimated damage of €667 000.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Bucharest (Romania) initiated a criminal action last week against one individual, accused of illegally obtaining almost €2 million from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Milan (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) in Varese have arrested two main suspects and executed a freezing order against seven companies under investigation for a major VAT carousel fraud involving luxury cars. Around €7.6 million has been frozen in bank and financial assets, real estate, land and cars. 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Turin (Italy), two suspects were arrested last Thursday, in a probe into possible fraud involving €1.6 million in loans for the development of drones, guaranteed by the European Investment Fund (EIF). 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Milan (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) have executed a freezing order against a company suspected of a major customs fraud involving the importation of electric bicycles (e-bikes) from China, with an estimated damage of over €9.8  million. 

At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Naples (Italy), the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza) of Naples have executed a freezing order amounting to €1.3 million against four companies and their respective legal representatives, suspected of fraud, embezzlement and money laundering.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Zagreb (Croatia) has filed an indictment against three Croatian citizens, accused of receiving and giving bribes to obtain EU funds for the extension and reconstruction of the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Project  in Varaždin (Croatia), with a value of over €20 million.

In an investigation into customs fraud and corruption led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Valletta (Malta), 11 suspects were charged today, including nine individuals (six customs officers and three customs operators) and two companies.