Officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation of the Police (CBŚP) and the National Revenue Administration (KAS), operating under the supervision of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Poznań, have successfully dismantled a highly organized criminal group involved in VAT fraud. The scale of the fraud is staggering, with the total value of fake invoices exceeding 1 billion PLN.
Mechanism of the Criminal Scheme
According to investigators, the group had been operating for several years, introducing fictitious VAT invoices into economic circulation amounting to 1.134 billion PLN. The VAT fraud itself was estimated at over 200 million PLN.
The criminals utilized a mechanism known as a “fictitious supply chain,” trading goods such as plastic granules and copper sulfate. To obscure the origin of the goods and cover their tracks, the perpetrators used both Polish and foreign companies that issued fraudulent VAT invoices. This scheme enabled them to evade tax obligations on an enormous scale.
52 Arrests, 205 Charges
The prosecutor from the District Prosecutor’s Office in Poznań has filed a total of 205 charges against 52 detained individuals. The charges include:
- Participation in an organized criminal group,
- Issuance of fraudulent VAT invoices,
- VAT fraud,
- Money laundering from criminal activities.
Additionally, three key members of the group have been charged with leading an organized criminal group.
Indictments and Potential Sentences
In this case, the prosecutor has already filed indictments against 40 defendants with the District Courts in Warsaw and Katowice. Those identified as the organizers of the scheme face sentences of up to 25 years in prison.
Source: Manager Plus
