The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) saidTuesday that it has uncovered the largest ever value-added tax (VAT) fraud scheme in the EU, worth an estimated €2.2 billion (US$2.3 billion) in stolen tax revenue.

The first court hearing in a Bulgarian bribery case, headed by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), took place on Thursday against a State Fund Agriculture (SFA) official.

The Palermo office of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said on Tuesday that it has concluded its first operation against a criminal group that trafficked counterfeit cigarettes. The investigation resulted in the arrest of 12 people, and the seizure of cash, vehicles and a speed boat.

Authorities in The Netherlands have dismantled an alleged criminal syndicate suspected of a complex multi-year, multi-million euro ‘carousel’ VAT-fraud scheme involving the online sale of electronic devices.

The European Union’s agency for law enforcement cooperation between member states has determined a ‘working relationship’ with a new, independent body set up to investigate and prosecute sophisticated cross-border financial crime.

OCCRP spoke with the head of the new European Public Prosecutor’s Office about the challenges in fighting the widespread  — but often-ignored — criminal scheme.

 A carousel fraudster is led away by authorities after a recent bust in Hungary. (Credit: Europol)

The European Court of Human Rights has condemned Romania’s decision to fire the former head of its anti-corruption body as a violation of her right to freedom of expression and a fair trial.