Strike against abuse of EU funds

The Customs Agency, in cooperation with the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), conducted a large-scale operation at the end of July. During the operation, 12 containers were seized, containing nearly 3,800 technical lithium-ion modular units, valued at over 2 million US dollars.

The operation is a key part of an investigation into EU subsidy fraud worth 10 million euros.

Details of the case

  • Scale: Total weight of 268,000 kg of goods.
  • Location: The ports of Varna and Burgas.
  • Subject of investigation: Abuse of projects for the production of lithium-ion batteries.

Investigators found that the goods were linked to a large-scale scheme in Romania aimed at redirecting assets and evading sanctions. The actions of the Bulgarian authorities prevented the export of the containers out of the country.

Context of the investigation

This case is not isolated. A month ago, the Sofia City Court detained individuals accused of fraud involving European subsidies under a youth employment fund amounting to 900,000 euros. The investigations of the European Public Prosecutor's Office are actively continuing, uncovering complex networks for the misappropriation of EU funds.