The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has uncovered a massiveVAT fraud scheme involving all 22 countries members of the EPPO, including Bulgaria, but also non-EU countries such as Albania, China, Serbia, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and USA.  The operation, dubbed “Admiral”, was launched against the biggest cross-border VAT fraud scheme ever investigated in the EU worth over EUR 2.2 billion.

The investigation started in April 2021 in Portugal, when the tax authorities in Coimbra probed a company selling mobile phones, tablets and other electronic devices, on suspicion of VAT fraud, and asked for the EPPO’s help. The probe established connections with over 9,000 other legal entities, and more than 600 natural persons.