EPPO Targets Alleged €100 Million Luxury-Car VAT Fraud Network
Prepared with Aletheia (AI) · Edited by Spyridon Drakopoulos
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office said searches and arrests targeted an alleged cross-border VAT fraud network linked to luxury-car sales. Estimated losses are €100 million.
Searches took place in Austria, Croatia, Czechia, Germany and Poland, with more than 900 law-enforcement officers involved. Thirteen people were arrested in Germany and Austria, and more than 50 suspects are under investigation. Authorities executed seizing orders worth €26 million, including real estate in Berlin and Croatia, bank accounts, cars, cash, crypto assets and luxury watches.
The EPPO alleges the scheme exploited cross-border VAT rules and had operated since at least 2016. It says the proceeds were allegedly laundered to conceal their criminal origin; the investigation remains ongoing.
Why it matters
- VAT carousel schemes can exploit cross-border transactions and refund processes.
- The alleged laundering and asset seizures highlight the importance of tracing proceeds across asset types and jurisdictions.
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Sources
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- Primary sourceEPPO: Javelin Luxury-Car VAT Fraud Investigation