EPPO targeted an alleged €33 million VAT carousel involving Chinese clothing imports into the EU

Italian authorities placed two suspects under house arrest and conducted searches and asset-seizure measures in an EPPO investigation into companies allegedly used to introduce clothing imported from China into Italy and subsequently sell it without paying the VAT due. Investigators estimate the missing-trader scheme caused more than €33.4 million in VAT losses and allege that numerous companies formally controlled by front persons were used as part of the criminal organisation.