European Public Prosecutor’s Office investigates tax fraud in steel imports to Germany

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Frankfurt am Main is investigating suspected tax evasion in the import of steel by an engineering company in the Rhine-Neckar region. This is stated in the message of EPPO.

Last December, customs officers from Stuttgart conducted searches at the German company’s office premises, while British tax authorities conducted parallel searches at the seller’s location, and a significant amount of electronic data was seized.

It is believed that the German company falsely declared the origin of the steel products as British in more than 100 customs clearances.

According to the investigation, the steel was of Indian origin and was transported only through the UK before being imported into Germany. According to EU customs rules, its correct declaration would have meant a 25% increase in import duties. As a result, the losses to the public finances are estimated at several hundred thousand euros.

The imports in question were made over a 12-month period starting in March 2021. The company purchased steel products worth more than €2.9 million.

As GMK Center reported earlier, in December 2024, the European Commission initiated a functional review of the EU’s safeguard measures on imports of steel products. The review was initiated following a request from 13 member states in late November. They believe that such a procedure is necessary due to changes in trade flows.