- In the operation, carried out in Seville, four people have been arrested and more than three million euros have been seized in current accounts, 15 properties, 17 vehicles and two boats.

- The amount defrauded is estimated at more than 9 million euros

The Tax Agency has dismantled in Seville an organization dedicated to intermediation in the fuel business that appropriated the VAT charged for the supply of hydrocarbons to gas stations. The organisation may have defrauded the Treasury of more than 9 million euros. Four people have been arrested on suspicion of tax offences and five searches have been carried out in neighbourhoods, homes and companies in the capital of Seville and its province.

The operation, called “Hidro”, began several months ago under the direction of the Court of Instruction No. 1 of Seville, and has been carried out by officials of the Tax Agency from the areas of Inspection and Customs Surveillance.

The companies involved had been operating in the fuel sector through wholesale sales to petrol stations. The fraud scheme, focused on VAT, consisted of legally acquiring fuel in a Fiscal Deposit (wholesaler of hydrocarbons), under a suspensive regime for the payment of the Special Tax on Hydrocarbons (IEH) and without paying VAT, for subsequent sale to gas stations. service (gas stations) with VAT impact, and IEH settlement. However, the companies involved did not enter into the Treasury the VAT that they had passed on and collected from the gas stations.

As part of the investigation, the Tax Agency has carried out five searches in private homes, companies and agencies, where it has seized abundant documentation that reveals the extent of the tax fraud committed by this organisation. Four of these searches were carried out in the city of Seville, and the fifth in the Sevillian town of Espartinas.

In addition, 15 properties valued at more than three million euros, two recreational boats with an estimated value of 165,000 euros, 17 vehicles valued at more than 600,000 euros and 3,365,000 euros in bank accounts have been seized. The investigation continues to determine all the details of the events. The discovery of new assets is not ruled out.