DIICOT carries out 48 searches in Bucharest and seven counties in a tax evasion case

DIICOT prosecutors carried out 48 searches on Thursday, October 15, in Bucharest and seven counties as part of a case involving organized crime, tax evasion and money laundering in the construction sector. The investigation targets a group made up of more than 20 people, with estimated damages exceeding 55 million lei.

The operation was coordinated by DIICOT Iași, with support from organized crime prevention and investigation units. The searches took place in the counties of Iași, Giurgiu, Prahova, Maramureș, Dâmbovița and Ilfov, as well as in Bucharest.

According to investigators, the group had allegedly been active since 2021 and allegedly used shell companies, intermediary companies and invoices for nonexistent or overvalued works. Through this fictitious scheme, the suspects allegedly sought to illegally deduct VAT and reduce the taxes owed to the state.

DIICOT says that many of the companies had no employees or resources for the activities they declared, while the transactions took place within a closed commercial circuit. The money was allegedly transferred between companies and later withdrawn in cash in order to conceal its origin.

For the 2023–2025 period, the estimated loss to the state budget is at least 16,665,844 lei, while the losses incurred by commercial companies would amount to 38,729,358 lei. The persons targeted are due to be questioned at DIICOT Iași. The investigation also concerns embezzlement, bad-faith use of company credit and the establishment of an organized criminal group. All suspects benefit from the presumption of innocence.