Fraudulently marketed engine oil misrepresented as diesel fuel
On November 14, 2024, a significant operation to combat large-scale smuggling of untaxed oil from Eastern Europe took place across Germany. The raids, coordinated by the Hof Public Prosecutor's Office, saw customs investigators execute searches on 32 locations simultaneously.
The operation was prompted by suspicions that diesel fuel was being smuggled into the country without proper taxation, with companies from Hamburg, Amberg, Falkensee, and predominantly from Berlin appearing as suppliers or invoicers of the smuggled oil.
Five tanker trucks loaded with diesel fuel were stopped en route to a company in Upper Franconia, totaling around 150,000 liters. An arrest warrant was also issued against an Upper Franconian businessman suspected of selling the untaxed diesel fuel through company-owned gas stations.
Investigators believe that, at least since the beginning of 2023, the contents of up to 16 tanker trucks of smuggled oil were pumped into the tanks of the Upper Franconian company daily. It is suspected that freight papers and hazardous goods warning signs may have been switched to diesel fuel during the journey.
During the raids, customs investigators seized extensive evidence, including business documents, written records, notebooks, tablet PCs, mobile phones, and over 30,000 euros in cash, as well as 12,500 euros in counterfeit money. The authorities impounded or secured 15 tanker trucks, 6 heavy goods vehicles, 6 trailers, and 10 passenger cars. Seven gas station diesel pumps were locked and storage tank contents were secured by sealing.
A suspect traveling by plane to Frankfurt am Main during the operation attempted to destroy or dispose of written records. Frankfurt customs inspectors searched the relevant waste bin after the suspect's landing and execution of the arrest warrant.
The preliminary estimated tax loss (energy tax) is around 18 million euros, with an additional 3.6 million euros suspected of value-added tax evasion. The procedure for suspected tax evasion in particularly serious cases or commercial tax fraud is ongoing. Six arrest warrants were executed against members of groups suspected of this smuggling activity.
However, the search results do not provide information about the person behind the company in Upper Franconia suspected of large-scale unauthorized oil receipt from Eastern Europe and its redirection as diesel in Germany. The Hof Public Prosecutor's Office oversaw the execution of the measures on-site with two public prosecutors.
Approximately 300 customs investigators from various offices were involved in the raids, marking a significant step in the fight against tax evasion and organised crime in Germany.
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