European operation against gang that evaded VAT for 303 million euros at Liège airport | Abroad

On Tuesday, agents searched warehouses and offices at Liège airport and in Zeebrugge and private homes of the suspects in Ans, Liège and Wezet.

The EPPO suspects Chinese exporters of having set up a complex system to evade VAT on imported goods. They would have used Belgian private customs agencies and a number of mailbox companies in different EU countries. The Belgian companies stated that the goods that came through Liège airport – such as electronics, toys and accessories – were destined for other Member States so that they could benefit from a VAT exemption.

To benefit from this exemption, they used mailboxes in France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland and Spain. In some cases, they presumably also used real companies, who were not aware of it.

The imported goods eventually went to real companies in other EU countries or were sold through online platforms. The end consumer paid the full price for the product, including VAT. However, that VAT was never declared or paid to a tax authority, allowing the goods to be sold for large profits, says the European prosecutor’s office.

According to the EPPO, these activities led to at least €303 million in VAT evaded and €6.6 million in customs duties evaded between 2019 and 2022. The four arrested suspects are two directors, an accountant and another employee of the Belgian companies under investigation.