The European Prosecutor's Office carried out 25 searches in Vrancea, confiscating goods worth 300,000 euros in a case of fraud with EU funds for disadvantaged youth.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) carried out 25 searches in Focșani and other locations in Vrancea County on Tuesday, as part of an investigation into suspicions of fraud with European funds intended for disadvantaged youth. As a result of the actions, ten properties, including houses and land, worth approximately 300,000 euros, were confiscated, and the bank accounts of several suspects were blocked. Eight individuals were brought to the EPPO headquarters in Iași to be informed about their status as suspects. The investigation revealed that several individuals created a fraudulent scheme to access a 250,000 euro project from EU funds, aimed at supporting disadvantaged youth in starting businesses. The suspects established companies in the names of young people, using false documents to simulate economic activities and obtain European subsidies. The EPPO, led by Laura Codruța Kovesi, has been investigating crimes affecting the EU budget since 2021.