Police arrested seven people for fiscal fraud following ten house searches carried out on Tuesday morning.
The Federal Judicial Police of Brussels conducted the searches as part of a largescale organised fiscal fraud case. Following these searches, seven people were arrested. Luxury goods, €100,000 in cash and 15 vehicles were seized and bank accounts were frozen.
The arrested individuals are suspected of trading goods purchased in China, and the investigation indicates that foreign companies were used to avoid taxation in Belgium. This is the case even though the business activities are managed from Belgium.
The seven suspects were charged with tax fraud, forgery and use of forged documents, money laundering and falsification of seals and marks. Four of them were placed under arrest warrant – two under electronic surveillance – and the other three were released on conditions. Another person was arrested on Tuesday evening will appear before the investigating judge on Thursday.
Interministerial collaboration
According to a statement from the Brussels Public Prosecutor, the investigation has provided a better understanding of how the operation is structured in different countries and through multiple bank accounts. The suspects are also suspected of using company assets for their personal enrichment as well as that of their family members, with an estimated illegal capital gain of €8 million.
Investigators from the Federal Judicial Police cooperated with the Special Tax Inspectorate of the Finance Ministry on the case. An inspection was also carried out by the Employment Ministry's Directorate of Wellbeing at Work Control during the searches.
The Public Prosecutor said it would not comment further.
