The Polícia Judiciária (PJ), through its Criminal Investigation Department in Setúbal, conducted searches on Tuesday at a national wholesale company involved in the food, hygiene, and cleaning sectors. The company, located on the southern bank of the River Tagus, is suspected of defrauding the state of approximately 3.5 million euros. As a result of these operations, eight individuals, including five people and three companies, have been charged.Although most searches took place in “various locations on the south bank,” there were also operations in Lisbon and Porto. Authorities seized “significant evidence” and 75,000 euros in cash during these activities.
The investigation, known as Operation ‘Carrocel,’ was initiated following an inspection by the Tax Authority, which identified evidence of serious tax fraud offenses, particularly involving “VAT fraud on acquisition,” conducted between 2015 and 2021, according to the PJ’s statement.
Authorities were able to identify a “network of companies and individuals who simulated the buying and selling of goods in both the national and community markets,” taking advantage of laws concerning the “non-liquidation of VAT between European Union Member States.”
To conceal the company’s illicit activities, those involved established several “front companies.”
Operation ‘Carrocel’ involved two public prosecutors, 62 PJ inspectors, 14 financial and accounting experts from the PJ’s Expert Unit, eight technology and computer experts from the PJ, along with 20 inspectors and eight computer experts from the Tax Authority. A total of 17 residential and 21 non-residential searches, including accounting offices, were conducted.
