FLASH
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During the operation, mobile phones worth over 15.3 million euros were seized, as well as a yacht worth 3 million euros, 1.2 million euros in cash and cryptocurrencies.
A structured criminal group that carried out fiscal evasion causing an economic damage of 195 million euros through the creation of fictitious invoices for the purpose of VAT reimbursement, has been destroyed in a mega-operation across Europe, including Albania.
SPAK announced that in our country, 5 premises controls were carried out, from which various electronic devices were seized (telephones, laptops, as well as USB/HDD).
The investigation spanned 17 countries (Albania, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom), carrying out more than 180 controls, and 14 people were arrested.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office announced that during the operation in all the aforementioned countries, mobile phones worth over 15.3 million euros, as well as a yacht worth 3 million euros, 1.2 million euros in cash and cryptocurrencies were seized.
Several vehicles, Rolls-Royce, BMW and Range Rover brands, jewelry, luxury watches and 2.5 kilograms of gold were also seized.
Luxembourg – On 28 February 2024, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Munich and Cologne in Germany took action against a suspected criminal organization believed to have orchestrated a massive €195 million VAT fraud through the sale of smartphones , small electronic devices and protective face masks.
During the international operation led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office, under the investigation group Midas, more than 180 checks were carried out and 14 people were arrested in 17 countries: Albania, Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy , Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Over 680 tax and police investigators have supported investigative measures.
During the searches, law enforcement seized large amounts of smartphones, worth more than 15.3 million euros, as well as a yacht worth 3 million euros and 1.2 million euros in hard cash and cryptocurrencies.
Several cars were seized, including a Rolls-Royce, a BMW and a Range Rover. Jewelry, luxury watches and 2.5 kg of gold were also found in the suspect's apartments.
At issue is VAT fraud - a complex criminal scheme that takes advantage of EU rules on cross-border transactions between its member states, as these are exempt from value added tax (VAT).
Complex criminal ecosystem
The investigation revealed that the alleged masterminds of VAT fraud created a complex criminal ecosystem, which allowed them to defraud up to €195 million through several criminal schemes.
It is alleged that, since 2017, a German sewer company has led various VAT fraud schemes involving the trade of small electronic goods, including smartphones.
It is learned that the suspects used fraudulent chains of disappearing traders who lost track of them without fulfilling their tax obligations.
In 2020, the same masterminds of these VAT fraud schemes are believed to have entered the market for protective face masks.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, protective face masks were in high demand; the company managed by the suspects is understood to have bought them from a missing dealer and channeled them through several companies to disguise their final destination.
On paper, their company was based in Hong Kong, but the face masks were actually in a warehouse in Germany and remained there until the German Federal Ministry of Health bought them from the supposedly Hong Kong-based company.
According to the investigation, neither the company at the beginning of the supply chain nor the Hong Kong-based company refunded the VAT they received after selling the face masks to the ministry.
Ultimately, the suspected criminal organization behind the identified VAT fraud schemes is believed to have created layers of companies, fictitious identities and secret communications to mask their criminal activities.
Outstanding and long cooperation
What made Midas possible is the European Public Prosecutor's unique ability to collect investigations transnationally, combined with unprecedented speed in obtaining cross-border evidence under the provisions of Articles 31 and 32 of the EPPO Regulation.
Two and a half years of identifying and linking apparently individual criminal offenses as well as more than 200 requests for assistance issued and answered by 14 European Delegated Prosecutors in 12 Member States working as a team led to the conclusion of this the operation.
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