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17/03/2026   European Public Prosecutor's Office News

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Investigation Black Forest: EPPO carries out searches on suspicion of customs fraud involving the imports of aluminium from China (Luxembourg, 17 March 2026) – At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Berlin (Germany), multiple searches were conducted today in five different federal states of Germany, in a probe into suspected customs fraud and tax evasion involving the imports of aluminium from China into the EU. The 17 searches were carried out by the customs investigation offices Dresden, Berlin/Brandenburg and Frankfurt am Main (Zollfahndungsämter Dresden, Berlin/Brandenburg und Frankfurt am Main) in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony. Offices and houses were searched, and evidence was gathered. The investigation, codenamed Black Forest, indicates that since 2021 representatives of a Swiss company, acting through a subsidiary of a Chinese parent company, allegedly imported aluminium into the EU via a logistics company operating several offices in Germany. The aluminium was subsequently processed by a German subsidiary of the Swiss company into various products, which were then sold to other companies in Germany and abroad. According to the investigation, in order to avoid the payment of anti-dumping and countervailing duties, the suspects allegedly declared the goods under incorrect tariff codes and submitted false invoices to undervalue the imports and evade customs duties and taxes.   more   Latvia: 20 suspects detained over €1.5 million IT procurement fraud (Luxembourg, 18 March 2026) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Riga (Latvia) has dismantled an organised crime group involving public officials suspected of wrongdoing in public procurement procedures for the acquisition of IT systems by state institutions. Twenty suspects were detained today, including public officials. A total of 57 house and company searches were carried out today with the support of Europol, the Economic Crime Combating Department and other Latvian law enforcement agencies. A substantial amount of evidence was seized, including from the State Digital Development Agency. The investigation has established that an organised group of individuals entered into an unlawful secret agreement to determine in advance who would win the public procurement for at least six projects, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with up to €1.5 million. There are indications that the participants colluded to ensure that project tasks were awarded to pre-selected companies. The resulting illicit profits were allegedly shared among the co-conspirators. It is further alleged that the contracts were unlawfully secured with the assistance of public officials.   more

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