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24/03/2026   European Public Prosecutor's Office News

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Investigation ‘Borotalco’: EPPO dismantles tobacco smuggling network operating in Italy, France, Poland, Switzerland and UK (Luxembourg, 24 March 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Turin (Italy) has dismantled a tobacco smuggling network operating across Italy, France, Poland, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK), following a coordinated crackdown that led to multiple arrests today. Over 40 tonnes of illicit tobacco products were also seized in this investigation, code-named ‘Borotalco’ (talcum powder). The investigation started following the analysis of suspicious container movements arriving at the Port of Genoa (region of Liguria), making it possible to identify a transnational criminal organisation with the operational base located in the UK and connections across Europe, Africa and Asia. Based on the evidence, the tobacco was declared as coming from Armenia, Dubai (UAE) and Spain, and entered the Italian territory through the Port of Genoa, using maritime and commercial routes designed to evade customs inspections. These routes passed through Georgia, Kenya, the Netherlands and Turkey, in order to hide the true origin of the illicit goods. The organisation established a network of associates across these countries, with the cigarettes ultimately destined for the black market in several European countries. A company in the Genoa area was allegedly used for shipment notifications in customs procedures, to avoid inspections. The company also made available its warehouses in the province of Alessandria, in close proximity with the Port of Genoa, for unloading and storing the smuggled tobacco, until transportation to other destinations, as well as for storing cover materials used to conceal the illicit cargo. The goods were declared as being construction materials, which were used to disguise the cartons of cigarettes. In addition, false bottoms were used as hidden compartments built into containers to conceal the tobacco. To hide the identities of the shipment consignees in customs documentation, an IT specialist from the Campania region created and managed fake websites and email addresses. It is understood that the criminal organisation also used encrypted communication platforms, to avoid surveillance by law enforcement. Five suspects in pre-trial detention Following a request from the EPPO, the Judge for Preliminary Investigations at the Court of Genoa ordered the pre-trial detention of five suspects, detained today in Italy, UK and Poland, and the seizure of assets worth approximately €2.5 million.   more

Press release Poland: Suspect of fraud involving Clean Air Programme arrested at Warsaw airport In Polish below / Po polsku poniżej (Luxembourg, 25 March 2026) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Gdańsk (Poland), law enforcement authorities have arrested one suspect at Warsaw airport as part of an investigation into suspected misuse of funds under the Clean Air Programme. The suspect, who had been in Thailand seeking a residence visa, was arrested on 20 March 2026 by officers of the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau (CBA), assisted by Border Guard officers. He was charged with fraud and misuse of public funds and was placed in pre-trial detention for three months by the District Court for the Southern area of Gdańsk. CBA officers also conducted searches at several locations, seizing documentation and mobile phones as evidence. The arrested individual is the CEO of a company based in Gdańsk, involved in implementing projects under the Clean Air Programme – a Polish government scheme that provides funding to homeowners to replace polluting heating systems and improve energy efficiency in residential buildings, co-funded by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), under the 2021–2027 programme. Acting as both contractor and representative of beneficiaries, the company submitted applications for funding to national authorities, obtaining more than €1.6 million (PLN 6 965 250,14) in EU and national grants. According to the findings, the funds were transferred directly to the company, which in a number of cases failed to commence works or discontinued them at an early stage, despite declaring their completion.   more   Polska: Podejrzany o oszustwo w ramach programu „Czyste Powietrze” zatrzymany na lotnisku w Warszawie (Luksemburg, 25 marca 2026 r.) – Na wniosek Prokuratury Europejskiej (EPPO) w Gdańsku (Polska) organy ścigania zatrzymały na lotnisku w Warszawie jednego podejrzanego w związku z śledztwem dotyczącym nieprawidłowego wykorzystania środków w ramach programu „Czyste Powietrze”. Podejrzany, który przebywał w Tajlandii, gdzie podejmował działania zmierzające do uzyskania wizy pobytowej, został zatrzymany 20 marca 2026 r. przez funkcjonariuszy Centralnego Biura Antykorupcyjnego (CBA), przy wsparciu funkcjonariuszy Straży Granicznej. Postawiono mu zarzuty oszustwa oraz niegospodarności w zakresie środków publicznych. Decyzją Sądu Rejonowego Gdańsk-Południe zastosowano wobec niego środek zapobiegawczy w postaci tymczasowego aresztowania na okres trzech miesięcy. Funkcjonariusze CBA przeprowadzili również przeszukania w kilku lokalizacjach, zabezpieczając dokumentację oraz telefony komórkowe jako materiał dowodowy. Zatrzymany jest prezesem zarządu spółki z siedzibą w Gdańsku, zaangażowanej w realizację projektów w ramach programu „Czyste Powietrze” – rządowego programu wspierającego właścicieli domów w wymianie wysokoemisyjnych źródeł ciepła oraz poprawie efektywności energetycznej budynków mieszkalnych, współfinansowanego przez Europejską Agencję Wykonawczą ds. Klimatu, Infrastruktury i Środowiska (CINEA) w ramach programu na lata 2021–2027. Działając jednocześnie jako wykonawca oraz przedstawiciel beneficjentów, spółka składała wnioski o dofinansowanie do organów krajowych, uzyskując ponad 1,6 mln euro (6 965 250,14 PLN) ze środków unijnych i krajowych. Z ustaleń wynika, że środki te były przekazywane bezpośrednio spółce, która w wielu przypadkach nie rozpoczęła prac lub przerywała je na wczesnym etapie, mimo deklarowania ich zakończenia.   more   European Public Prosecutor's Office - 11 Avenue John F. Kennedy, Luxembourg, 1855 Luxembourg