Bulgarian Police Bust Large VAT Evasion Gang

Bulgarian police have conducted a large-scale operation against a gang dealing with VAT evasion. File photo.

Bulgarian police have conducted Monday a special operation codenamed "The Invoice Writers," leading to 31 arrests in the cities of Sofia, Plovdiv, and Shumen, and in the town of Samokov.

The news was reported Tuesday by the Interior Ministry's press office.

The detainees are members of an organized crime group which, since 2008, had deprived the State Treasury of over BGN 2.2 M in Value Added Tax, VAT. The operation had been conducted jointly by the Main Police Directorates of Combatting Organized Crime, GDBOP, and of Criminal Police and the special anti-mafia Prosecutor's Office.

The damages for the budget were inflicted through trade of cables, construction materials and imports of produce. The gang established and controlled companies, registered to disadvantaged people and Roma, and issued fake documents such as rent contracts, invoices and others, used for VAT evasion.

Scores of companies took part in the scam, mainly based in the capital Sofia and the second largest city of Plovdiv.

Ten of the detained were arrested in Sofia; 6 have criminal records for various fraudulent actions.

One person was arrested in Shumen, also with a rap sheet; 17 – in Plovdiv, 5 of whom with criminal records, and 3 with criminal records in Samokov.

Police seized material evidence such as computers, accounting books, and stamps. The investigation continues.

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