Large-scale operation against fraud in 16 countries, including Belgium

The suspects had set up companies in fifteen EU member states, where they posed as electronics sellers. From there they sold electronics worth 1.48 billion euros. Consumers paid VAT on those products, but the companies kept disappearing from the radar, meaning that VAT was not passed on to the tax authorities. Other companies in the chain then reclaimed the VAT, resulting in 297 million euros being left behind.

According to EPPO, more than 400 companies participated in this complex fraud scheme and there was also money laundering from the drugs environment, cybercrime and investment fraud.

In total, more than 350 actions were carried out in sixteen countries, including our country. During these actions, 32 people were arrested in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, 3 of whom must remain in jail. In addition, electronics worth 47.5 million euros, several luxury cars and 126,966 euros in cash were seized and 62 bank accounts with a total value of more than 5.5 million euros were frozen.