The inspections of the SDOE brought out “seabass”: in the “lens” the circles of illegal trade in fuel and fraud with e-shop purchases

The SDOE audits yielded redfish after uncovering fuel smuggling rings, companies with fake and fictitious invoices that have caused damage of hundreds of millions of euros to state coffers, companies that violate labor laws, natural persons with an unjustified increase in assets, but also companies that traffic thousands of ” monkey’ products.

The SDOE, in collaboration with the Greek Police, identified after a long-term investigation the real persons who were behind the fraud circuit with purchases from e-shops that acted at the expense of consumers and stole more than 5 million euros in taxes from the public.

The most important cases of audits carried out by SDOE during the last four months are the following:

I. BUSINESS ADDRESS S.D.O.E. ATTICA

A. FUEL ADULTERATION/SMUGGLING CONTROLS

On the occasion of executing an order of the Financial Crimes Prosecutor, a large circuit of trading companies and retail fuel stations was checked and a very large volume of seized documents was processed.

The investigation was completed in September 2022, with an assessment of Special Consumption Tax (SCT) and other taxes amounting to 22,174,461.80 euros, plus multiple fees of 66,523,385.60 euros, i.e. a total of 88,697,847.40 euro.

B. CONTROLS OF CONTRABLIC TOBACCO PRODUCTS

Inspection and seizure of tobacco products in containers inside the commercial port of Piraeus was carried out, in cooperation with the 3rd Customs of Piraeus and the SEC. In particular, 3 containers were checked, in which 27,120,000 cigarettes were located and confiscated. The corresponding duties and other taxes were calculated at the amount of 5,743,406.19 euros.

C. GRANT GRANT CONTROLS

In the context of controls carried out regarding compliance with the conditions of implementation of the Development Law 3299/2004, the following cases of circumvention were found:

1. Pursuant to a Prosecutor’s Order, a company with an establishment in the Region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace was audited, which was found to have received tax information for unacceptable subsidized expenses, while also not complying with the conditions of affiliation regarding the employees employed. A Final Report was drawn up and sent to the competent Prosecutor’s Office, with an expected benefit for the Greek State of 1,620,865 euros.

2. 6 companies based in the Regions of Attica, North Aegean, South Aegean and Central Greece were audited, which circumvented the provisions of the investment law, receiving fictitious tax documents worth approximately 2,000,000 euros. Also, a company was checked that was found to have issued fictitious data to one of the above companies, worth 1,312,000 euros.

D. CONTROLS OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE BUSINESSES

1. On the occasion of fraud complaints received by the service, for purchases from online stores (e-Shops) and in cooperation with the Greek Police, a large criminal organization that acted against consumers was dismantled.

In particular, after a long-term investigation, the real hidden persons who controlled a number of legal entities in the form of Sole Proprietorship were identified. These companies were represented by “straw man” managers, operated for a short time as e-shops and then disappeared, never paying taxes.

Through the above circuit, damage was caused to the Greek State from evaded taxes totaling approximately 5,000,000 euros.

2. From an audit of a courier company, it was found that an e-commerce company did not issue at least 7,400 retail sales receipts for the years 2020-2021, obtaining a financial benefit of more than 370,000 euros, while it did not pay VAT to the Greek State of more than 70,000 euros.

For the above cases, the First Instance Prosecutor’s Office and the competent Services of the AADE were informed.

E. TAX EVASION CHECKS – VIRTUAL ELEMENTS

In the context of audits carried out in businesses in the Prefectures of Attica and Thessaloniki, virtual tax data relating to the years 2016-2020 were seized as follows:

1. 6 companies that issued (issuers) fictitious tax information were audited and documents with a total value of 104,367,187.84 euros were seized.

2. 7 companies that received (recipients) fictitious tax data were audited and documents with a total value of 87,706,382.75 euros were seized.

The loss of the Greek State from the above cases is estimated to exceed the amount of 23,500,000 euros. Relevant reports were sent to the competent Services of AADE.

F. LABOR LAW CHECKS

226 checks were carried out to determine the correct application of labor legislation and 266 violations were detected in 83 enterprises for underreported and uninsured work. Audit reports were sent to the competent agencies (SEPE, EFKA) for the imposition of fines totaling 1,452,500 euros.

G. COUNTERFEIT TRAFFIC CONTROLS

1. An inspection, seizure and destruction of counterfeit products was carried out in 3 businesses in Heraklion Prefecture with the assistance of EL.AS. A total of 12,148 pieces of counterfeit goods were confiscated and fines of 105,000 euros were imposed.

2. An audit was carried out at 2 businesses in Zakynthos, where a total of 8,806 pieces of counterfeit goods were seized and destroyed and fines of 81,000 euros were imposed.

H. CONTROLS OF THE PROTECTION OF INTERESTS OF THE GREEK PUBLIC AND THE EU.

1. 4 investigations were carried out by the Service on vehicles with a displacement of 1,929 cubic centimeters or more, which were converted and converted into vehicles with a smaller displacement and for which a new license was issued. In 3 cases, indications of virtual subjugation emerged and the competent services were informed, as well as the Prosecutor’s Office.

2. An investigation was completed regarding the management of European and national funds mainly related to the feeding of refugees-immigrants at the Reception and Identification Centers (RCI). The audit extended to both public and private entities that had contracted to feed migrants and refugees, focusing on the tendering procedures, the verification of the adequacy of raw materials and the existence or not of the appropriate infrastructure for their execution, as well as their implementation based on the provisions and the applicable legal framework. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) also participated in part of the investigation. The competent Prosecution Authorities have already been informed of the results of the investigation.

II. BUSINESS ADDRESS S.D.O.E. MACEDONIA

A. TAX EVASION CHECKS – VIRTUAL ELEMENTS

1. In an audit of a dealer of old metals (scrap) in the wider area of ​​the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, it was found that the non-submission of income tax returns for the years 2016-2020 with hidden taxable material of more than 23,000,000 euros and the non-return of VAT. for the same years of an amount of more than 250,000 euros. The fines and taxes that will be imposed are close to 6,350,000 euros.

2. In an audit of a scrap metal (scrap) business in the Prefecture of Pella, it was found that fictitious invoices were issued in the 2016-2017 years, amounting to 1,530,127 euros. In addition, the non-submission of income tax returns for the years 2011-2021 was established. The taxes and fines that will be imposed by the competent D.O.Y. were calculated at the amount of 1,811,000 euros.

3. In an audit of a natural person for money laundering, it was found that the submission of inaccurate income tax returns for the years 2015-2019, with a total hidden taxable amount of approximately 700,000 euros.

B. GRANT GRANT CONTROLS

1. In the context of a business subsidy audit in the Prefecture of Trikala, it was found that the project was overpriced, amounting to 2,468,848 euros. The fines and taxes imposed, as well as the return of part of the subsidy, approach the amount of 2,500,000 euros.

2. In an audit of a subsidy for a livestock unit in the Prefecture of Xanthi, it was found that fictitious tax data, worth 200,000 euros, had been received and used. The amount of the fines is estimated at 278,588 euros.

Both the D.O.Y. were informed with relevant reports. as well as the body responsible for refunding the subsidies.

C. WEALTH ADDITION CHECKS

1. In an audit of the sources of relatives between the persons, it was found the non-declaration of income for the years 2016-2018 in the total amount of 500,000 euros and the use of a corporate structure of a maritime company for the laundering of this amount and its further placement in subsidized investments.

2. In an audit of a natural person for the legalization of illegal income, an increase in assets of approximately 400,000 euros, derived from fraud, and the further use of the financial sector to launder it were found.

3. In an audit of a natural person manager of a supplier company, fraud against the State in the context of co-financed programs and the use of the financial sector for the legalization of illegal income, amounting to 700,000 euros, was found.

D. COUNTERFEIT TRAFFIC CONTROLS

In checks carried out in businesses in the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, for the marketing of counterfeit – imitation products, a total of 8,347 products (clothing, footwear, mobile phones, watches, glasses, bags and perfumes) were identified and seized, which were imitations/falsifications of brand name Licensee Companies.

The auditors of the General Directorate SDOE, with a high sense of duty, will continue, with greater intensity and determination, their battle to protect the interests of the Greek State and the EU, as well as for the implementation and observance of the existing legislation for the protection of consumers, businesses and employees.

RES-EMP

Read the News today and get the latest news.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news.