New ‘seabass’ were released by the SDOE controls

New “seabass” were released by the audits of SDOE after the intensification of the audits by the Operational Directorate of SDOE Attica in companies importing – trading in cereals, corn and animal feed.

The audits focus, apart from the fight against fraud and the protection of the interests of the Greek State and the EU. and to protect the consumer public from unfair competition practices.

In particular, as announced by SDOE:
Utilizing relevant information, it carried out audits of companies active in the import – trade of cereals, corn and animal feed in the region of Central Macedonia.

In these cases, money laundering is investigated, using fictitious invoices, undercutting of sales and VAT fraud. by natural and legal persons involved.

An initial inspection of a cereal wholesale company found that the company was not in operation, and that testimonies from locals had not shown any activity in recent months, while the manager of the company, who was searched at his home address, happens unknown.

With the assistance of the Alexandria Security Department and in the presence of a Judicial Officer, an audit was carried out at the company’s headquarters, where a number of tax data and other notes were confiscated.

The confiscated data of the company were processed and VAT non-refund was found. at least 1,280,000 euros for the years 2020, 2021 and 2022while the investigation continues in the suppliers and customers of the auditee for the fictitiousness of the tax data issued and received by the auditee.

Evaluating the data of the investigation and the relevant information, searches were carried out in the residences and business premises of persons hiding from the involved companies, with the assistance of the Security Department of Veria and in the presence of a Judicial Officer, and were confiscated:

Seals of a company related to the action of the “CAROUSEL circuit” were confiscated in an operation of the PROPO Agency.

A number of business stamps (12 Greek companies), a number of tax data of the companies associated with the action of the “CAROUSEL circuit”, fake authorizations bearing the stamps of the Public Authority, were confiscated in a vehicle that was confiscated near the PROPO Agency operation company. in-vehicle information, credit cards of various individuals (company managers), three checks with a total value of 100,000 euros, a Police ID and a driver’s license, passport photos of the alleged “brains” of the criminal group and 13 prepaid calling cards.

The above companies have issued tax data of several millions of euros, so the amount of taxes that have not been paid is estimated at tens of millions of euros.

Alongside, 13 companies were surveyed, where it was found that 9 of them were not in operation and were established for the sole purpose of receiving and issuing fictitious invoices, a necessary link in the VAT fraud. and in the creation of a CAROUSEL circuit.

A number of tax data were confiscated in 4 companies, which are being processed to determine the damage to the Greek State.

The purpose of the above circuit was to make imports through non-existent intermediary companies and then to make undervalued sales to the final recipients of the goods without paying the corresponding taxes (VAT – Income).

In addition, by their actions, the controlled companies distorted and created conditions of unfair competition against other legal companies in the cereals, corn and feed trade sector, as it was observed that the controlled companies were able to sell the goods at an extremely low price.

From the findings and the processing of the confiscated data, companies represented by 7 local and 9 foreign representatives of the companies or undercover persons have been connected with the illegal activity of the circuit.

The investigation continues regarding the participation of other companies that received invoices from the non-existent companies that issued fictitious invoices, as well as the cash flows for locating all the persons involved.

At the same time, immediate measures were taken to protect the interests of the State (freezing of bank accounts), immediately informing the Athens Appellate Prosecutor’s Office (Office of the Financial Prosecutor).

The investigation extends to the action of legal and natural persons in other Member States, in order to gather sufficient evidence to dismantle the criminal network.