| In French below / En français ci-dessous (Luxembourg, 24 November 2025) - At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Paris (France), the competent judge of the Paris Criminal Court ordered a seizure of over €1.9 million relating to two real estate properties, and a freezing order of nearly €550 000 on bank accounts. Both belong to a French trading company and their managers, based in the Paris area, specialised in importing among other shoes and bags from China to Europe and suspected of customs fraud. The trading company, along with another company and both of their managers are under investigation for customs fraud, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organisation related to offences affecting the EU budget. At least six individuals were involved in the management of the two companies, purchasing over €21 million worth of goods from China between 2018 and 2024 and sold them to wholesalers or retailers in France and other EU Member States. Evidence was gathered during interviews and searches conducted in France, and through cross-border investigative measures over the period between 2022 and 2024. The evidence suggests that the two companies declared false and incomplete information, undervaluing their products to French customs authorities during over 440 imports since 2018. Through this method, it is estimated the importers avoided paying almost €6.5 million in customs duties and import VAT. The alleged fraud was initially detected and reported to the EPPO by the French National Directorate for Customs Investigations and Intelligence (DNRED) from the General-Directorate for Customs (DGDDI), which carried out the investigation under the direction of the EPPO in Paris. | 
