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PRESS RELEASE...

Law enforcement authorities from 15 EU Member States and the UK teamed up last month to dismantle a major black market cigarettes racket. Supported by Europol and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the joint operation took place between 2 and 13 November.  

On 17 December 2020, the final phase of a three-year long trans-European operation targeting the smuggling and illicit production of cigarettes, coordinated by European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), took place in Romania.

One week of operations coordinated by the Dutch authorities and supported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and Europol resulted in the seizure of at least 2100 cylinders of illicit HFCs – hydrofluorocarbons – for an estimated value of over 10 million euros.

In a criminal case launched on the basis of the judicial recommendation of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) the Central Investigative PPO has submitted an indictment to the Metropolitan Court of Justice for the crimes of budgetary fraud.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and Europol have agreed new working arrangements that will further improve the exchange of information between the two bodies and facilitate their joint work on the protection of the EU’s financial interests.

A major customs operation has uncovered illicit cross-border currency flows of €17 million potentially linked to money laundering, transnational criminal networks and terrorism financing.

Hungarian public prosecutors have followed a recommendation from the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and opened proceedings against individuals accused of illegally overcharging for the renovation of children’s playgrounds using EU money.

Early this week, Carabinieri Special Units conducted a successful operation in the southern Italian region of Puglia against a criminal group with links to the mafia.

Departamentul pentru lupta antifraudă – DLAF a acordat, la cerere, asistență tehnică Oficiului European de Luptă Antifraudă – OLAF, contribuind la identificarea modului de operare și fraudare a fondurilor europene pe teritoriul României de către o grupare infracțională din Italia.

Three persons have been sentenced to prison by the court of first instance (tribunal) in Genoa, Italy, as a judicial follow-up to an operation run by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Italian Guardia di Finanza.

Italy: ADM e OLAF a difesa del mercato europeo e a tutela del consumatore

Based on intelligence shared by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), Italian authorities seized over 4,000 counterfeit bearings (370kg) originating from China.

In a criminal case – in which the investigations were partly based on the judicial recommendation of the OLAF - the Metropolitan Public Prosecution Office has filed an indictment for unauthorized use of EU subventions and proposed that the court shall sentence the defendants to imprisonment.

The first conference of the investigative units of the external aid agencies of the EU’s Member States took place at the end of last week. OLAF organised the event with the intention to share its investigative expertise and create a community of national experts.

Spain: La Agencia Tributaria interviene 260.000 cajetillas de tabaco de contrabando en un contenedor en Barcelona

Thanks to targeted information supplied by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), Spanish customs officials in Barcelona have seized more than 260,000 packs of contraband tobacco, worth more than €1 million.

37 million illegal cigarettes, over 1.8 tons of tobacco and more than 3.5 thousand litres of illegal fuel were some of the seizures made by European border guards, police and customs officers in the course of operation Joint Action Day Arktos 2.
 

Law enforcement authorities seized 37 millions of illegal cigarettes and more than 3.5 thousand litres of illegal fuel this monthin a ten-day operation led by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

Europol coordinated operation Shield, a global effort to target trafficking of counterfeit and misused medicines and doping substances.