EPPO investigates alleged customs and VAT losses exceeding €234 million in Slovakia

The record

European prosecutors are investigating a suspected import-fraud scheme involving more than €234.3 million in unpaid customs duties and VAT, following searches in Slovakia on 20 and 21 October. The European Public Prosecutor's Office announced the action on 22 October under the codename Pantastic. [1]

At least 50 suspects are under investigation and five customs officers were questioned. The inquiry concerns imports of textiles and footwear from China and allegations that public officials accepted bribes to facilitate the scheme. The searches covered importers, customs representatives and transport companies. [1]

EPPO dates the alleged scheme to January 2016–December 2019 and also alleges systematic undervaluation of imports to reduce customs duties. The UK destination references concern that historical period. [1]

A tax exemption at the centre of the inquiry

EPPO says the suspected network abused Customs Procedure 42, which allows qualifying imports to be exempted from VAT in the country of importation when goods are subsequently sent to another EU member state. Investigators allege that false destinations were declared to obtain the exemption while VAT was not paid where the goods actually arrived. [1]

The announced routes include ports in Germany and Slovenia and declared destinations in Czechia, Poland and the United Kingdom. These references concern the arrangements under investigation; they do not mean that every business using those routes was involved. [1]

Three figures that should remain separate

The financial allegations comprise at least €44.3 million in evaded customs duties and more than €190 million in unpaid VAT. Together, those components exceed €234.3 million. A separate estimate puts alleged bribes at €12 million. [1]

The bribe estimate should not be added to the tax-loss figure and presented as a larger public-revenue loss. The former concerns alleged payments to officials; the latter concerns revenue authorities say should have been collected. Nor does either figure establish how much investigators have seized or recovered.

What the announcement establishes — and leaves open

The procedural stage is investigation: searches and questioning have taken place, but the announcement does not report convictions. The allegations remain to be tested in court, and those concerned are presumed innocent. [1]

For the money trail, the key evidential distinction is between a destination declared on customs paperwork and a delivery that actually occurred. Establishing that difference would require matching declarations with transport, receipt and tax-payment records; the press announcement alone does not permit that reconstruction.

This report is based on EPPO's public account. It does not independently establish the alleged losses or identify which unnamed companies or officials were responsible. No response from the suspects appears in the statement. [1]

Based on reporting from: EPPO — Investigation Pantastic, 22 October 2026; Photo source — Matjaž Mirt / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY 2.0; Photo licence — CC BY 2.0.