A Brussels construction company is suspected of benefit fraud involving Portuguese workers, the Liège labour auditorate announced on Wednesday.
Searches were conducted on Wednesday in Portugal, Germany, and Belgium. In Belgium, three people were arrested.
The investigation began in 2021 when the National Social Security Office (ONSS) inspected construction sites in Liège.
"Several Portuguese workers were found working on these sites, detached by Portuguese companies that succeed each other over time, supposedly benefiting the same Belgian company," the labour auditorate stated.
Evidence of serious and organised social fraud was discovered following these inspections. "The preliminary estimated damage from the fraud is around €15 million. Additionally, there are indicators of money laundering estimated at 30 million euros," said Pascale Malderez, press magistrate at the labour auditorate.
A thorough investigation was launched to confirm or refute the suspicions of fictitious detachments. A multidisciplinary operational task force (MOTEM), involving the Liège federal judicial police and the ONSS, was established under the auspices of the Liège labour auditorate.
The incidents are being treated as part of a potential criminal organisation. The labour auditorate has appointed a Liège investigating judge specialising in complex financial matters. Initial findings have highlighted possible connections between the targeted entities.
On Wednesday, over fifty investigators from the federal judicial police of Liège, along with ten social inspectors, conducted a large-scale operation in the Brussels and Liège regions.
"Five simultaneous searches were carried out in Belgium with the support of the Brussels federal judicial police and specialised cash-detection dog handlers," the labour auditorate reported.
Simultaneously, twelve searches were conducted in Portugal by the fiscal action unit of the Guardia Nacional Republicana (G.N.R.), accompanied by members of the Liège federal judicial police. A search was also carried out in Germany.
In total, three suspects were detained in Belgium for questioning, and one person was questioned in Portugal without detention.
During the searches, several thousand euros, numerous accounting and financial documents, and computer equipment were seized. These items will be examined and analysed in the coming days by the Ecofin division of the Liège federal judicial police.
By midday on Wednesday, the four detained individuals denied any involvement in the case. The investigation is ongoing.
