In the course of this police operation, 123 search procedures were carried out at home, in companies and public bodies, 108 of which in Portugal, seven in the United Kingdom, six in Germany and two in Latvia.

Taking into account the transnational dimension of the offenses, the operation had, in terms of police cooperation, the sponsorship and operational support of EUROPOL, in national territory and in the United Kingdom, and in the scope of coordination and judicial cooperation, the intervention of EUROJUST.

As a result of the investigations carried out, 11 people were arrested, in addition to 16 defendants and 33 Portuguese persons having been accused, 139 medium and high-end motor vehicles, 5 vessels and 70 different technological and computer equipment were seized, and 47 thousand Euros in cash, with a total estimated value of approximately 2 million and 600 thousand Euros.

The Portuguese Asset Recovery Office (GRA) guaranteed the freezing of 72 bank accounts and other financial instruments held by the suspects in Portugal and the United Kingdom, an amount not yet quantified.

In view of the specificity and complexity of the subject matter in the investigation, EUROPOL forensic experts participated in this operation, which it also supported with information analysts, the Tax and Customs Authority and the GNR criminal investigation structure.

The investigation into this criminal activity, had been developed for about two years, allowing to identify a network with a transnational dimension, that operated simultaneously in Portugal, United Kingdom, Germany and Latvia, using billing triangulation schemes between companies from different Member States and the constitution of missing trader companies that issued false invoicing, creating documentary circuits intended to certify the introduction in Portugal of used motor vehicles, evading VAT due to the Portuguese State, with the complicity of employees involved in the legalization of vehicles.

At the same time, they resorted to the massive issuance of false invoices in order to allow other operators to obtain undue deductions and refunds of VAT, as well as to obtain fraudulently European funds for development.

The criminal organization managed, using this fraudulent scheme, to obtain an illegitimate patrimonial advantage of at least 5 million Euros.

The suspects identified are indicted for crimes of criminal association, qualified tax fraud, money laundering, active and passive corruption, malfeasance, denial of justice and fraud in obtaining a subsidy.

The investigation efforts had the participation of the Tax and Customs Authority, through the Finance Directorate of Porto (AT).

About 300 GNR officers, belonging to the Fiscal Action Unit, to the Territorial Commands of Porto, Lisbon and Madeira, and to the Intervention Unit were engaged in the operation, as well as members of the Public Security Police and employees of the Tax Authority and Customs.

Internationally, the operation was supported by the Her’s Majesty Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of the United Kingdom, the Steuerfahndung of Germany and the State Police of Latvia.