revealed more about a Lithuanian -led group scam

The investigation center has a network of criminal persons, a large part of the members of which consisted of Lithuanians, which could be smuggled from the United States (USA) to transport severely damaged cars to the EU and sell them at least $ 31 million. taxes. It is suspected that the organizers of criminal schemes in Lithuania could legalize more than 9 million. would be received by car trading and not paying value added tax (VAT).

In a study in Lithuania, after 64 searches in various places of Lithuania, 15 searches in other EU countries, suspicions were made against 22 persons, 17 suspects were arrested. They are all Lithuanian citizens. The allegations were also made against two Latvian citizens and one Russian citizen living in Bulgaria. The strictest remand is the arrest for three persons.

Among the arrested suspects of Lithuanian citizens, the organizer of the international criminal group is considered to be a person.

The main criminal scheme investigated is the legalization of tax avoidance by large -scale and crime -based funds in smuggling from the US to the EU to import and sell severely damaged cars, which the suspects were brought and sold to end buyers after superficial repairs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixl-jtbgkmo

Possibly washing money

It is suspected that members of the organized criminal group in Lithuania included companies registered in Lithuania and abroad to conceal the income (cash) and settle with US and Canadian auctions for the used vehicles bought.

Corporate representatives suspected to receive money from the scheme organizer and transferred it to accomplices in Estonia, Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania and other countries registered companies, stating that alleged settlement for various ship repairs or other services unrelated to cars. It is suspected that members of the criminal group may have legalized more than 9 million members. euros received from car trading.

64 searches in Lithuania

This week, FNTT officials with over 150 seats were carried out in the operation of suspects, residential and other places, with 27 computers, 34 phones, 1 tablet, 12 USB keys, various companies stiffs, 2 firearms, plant -based drugs.

More than 423 thousand were found and taken. cash, almost EUR 176 thousand. US $ and $ 28,000. Russian rubles.

It is believed that the items taken are allegedly stored on the company’s accounted and unpaid revenue, information about the vehicles sold, advance payment or cash settlements. Various accounting documents, manuscripts and other inscriptions with vehicle acquisitions and sales, other expensive items (Rolex watches) were also taken during the search.

Photo by FNTT

Temporarily restricted the right to property of suspects worth more than $ 5 million. euros. The amount may increase during the pre -trial investigation.

Sold cars to repair only superficially

The study includes many countries, including the US, Canada, Hungary, Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK), Russia, and 11 other EU countries.

Procedural investigative actions (more than 200 searches, detention, arrests), in which more than 1 thousand people participated across Europe. officials were conducted this week in Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania and Spain.

According to the data collected during the investigation, the destructive cars were bought by suspects in large quantities from insurance companies at US auctions, and later sent them to the EU, to different ports, including Antwerp (Belgium), Bremerhaven (Germany), Klaipėda (Lithuania) and Rotterdam (Netherlands).

In order to avoid a number of customs duties, the suspects provided fake invoices to the customs, declaring much lower value of cars than they were actually paid.

Press Conference (Photo by P. Peleckis/BNS)

When they arrived in Lithuania, the cars were « cosmetically » repaired to look like new and pass the necessary technical certification procedures. After their vehicles, they were sold to end users in Germany and other EU countries as never an inexperienced car accident or « professionally repaired ». Investigators found that cars often had hidden violations or other serious security issues like the absence of airbags and so on. Less valuable vehicles were sold to Eastern European markets. At least 16,500 cars were sold in Lithuania alone in Lithuania alone. euros.

The pre -trial investigation, headed by the European Prosecutor’s Office, is continued.