- 30 individuals and companies indicted for a €35 million VAT fraud in Portugal
- Investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Lisbon
- Fraud involved essential food products like olive oil, cooking oil, and sugar
- Indictment filed in the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon
- Three defendants in pre-trial detention, one under house arrest
- Network created fictitious international transactions to evade VAT and claim refunds
- Products never left Portugal despite fake transactions
- Scheme targeted the wholesale market in Portugal, distorting competition
- Estimated undue profit of €35 million, damaging Portuguese state and EU budget
- Main defendants could face up to 25 years in prison, companies may face fines and dissolution
- Investigative measures supported by Portugal’s Tax and Customs Authority and National Guard
- All accused presumed innocent until proven guilty
- EPPO is responsible for prosecuting crimes against EU financial interests
Source: eppo.europa.eu
Note that this post was (partially) written with the help of AI. It is always useful to review the original source material, and where needed to obtain (local) advice from a specialist.
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