A bicycle shop in Schijndel is suspected of smuggling e-bikes from China, in order to evade taxes. The Fiscal Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) has raided the business and a house on the Eerdsebaan. In addition, administration, data carriers, cash, designer jewelry and bags and a vehicle were seized. The owners are suspected of incorrect customs declarations and from money laundering.
The FIOD announced this on Wednesday afternoon. After a report to the European Public Prosecution Service (EOM), it started a criminal investigation. On Tuesday morning the FIOD invaded the case and searches took place. The employees were informed within the promotion and were then asked to leave.
The company is said to have smuggled at least 25 containers full of bicycles through Poland. E-bikes from China are offered in Europe at very low prices. To protect the European market, companies must therefore pay extra tax, so -called anti -dumping taxes and compensatory rights. It can go up to eighty percent of the purchase price and that is why it is lucrative to bypass it.
“Now it appears that they have done something wrong in Poland.”
The owner of Lacros denies that he has something to do with the case and says he is not aware of any harm. “Until today I didn’t even know what I am suspected,” says Ton van den Oetelaar. He now thinks he knows what it has to do with.
Bicycles are designed in the store, but Lacros outsources the components. “We do that in Portugal and sometimes we move forward to another location, because we have too much demand.” According to Van den Oetelaar, that also happened in Coronatijd and then the company went wrong according to the FIOD.
“With Corona we had difficulty implementing deliveries and we approached a manufacturer in Poland,” says Van den Oetelaar. “He compiled the bikes and then neatly delivered to us. We thought it would be fine, but now it appears that they have done something wrong with a clearance in Poland.”
Goods that are introduced from outside the European Union, including China, must be cleared at customs. This means that the importer must pay import duties, taxes and VAT. That did not happen in Poland.
“We are being tackled, while companies with cheaper bicycles will continue to exist.”
“I understand that it is our bikes, but I have never been to Poland and have nothing to do with it,” says the owner. “We do not do illegal trade with China. Otherwise our prices were much lower,” he says. “We ask for 2000 euros for an e-bike and we also make no very big profit. We are being tackled, while companies that offer Fatbikes for 800 euros will continue to exist. So unjustified and so unfair.”