Operation ‘Impala’

 

• During the operation nine arrests were made, raids were carried out in seven residences in Coslada, Fuenlabrada, Madrid and Montaverner (Valencia), bank accounts were frozen and goods were seized amounting to 4 million euros
• The organisation imported merchandise from China and Pakistan, and declared a much lower value that the real value at Customs
• It is estimated that the companies have evaded VAT payments of 12 million euros in the last five years

 

December 1, 2016.- The Tax Agency has dismantled an organization dedicated to fraud in the import of goods from China and Pakistan destined for Spain, undervaluing the values declared at Customs and defrauding to the Public Treasury both in import duties (tariffs) and in VAT.

Within the framework of the operation, known as 'Impala', and based on preliminary investigations by the Central Court of Investigation no. 1 of Coslada, on 20th October, a total of seven raids were carried out in Coslada, Fuenlabrada, Madrid, and Montaverner (Valencia).

The preliminary investigations began in 2015 by the National Fraud Investigation Office in collaboration with the Customs Surveillance Unit of the Tax Agency, arising from a report submitted to the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption and Organised Crime.

The organisation had been operating since 2011, and frequently changed its procedures and clearance sites to avoid detection. The fraud operation consisted in importing large quantities of merchandise from China and Pakistan without declaring them on customs forms, to avoid import and tax duties. This fraud operation also resulted in unfair trade in the retail sector by flooding the market with cheap imports. It is estimated that the organisation has evaded VAT payments of over 12 million euros in the last five years.

 

Main clients in Valencia and Cobo Calleja

The operation had its headquarters in Spain. The organisation's main clients were based in Valencia and in the industrial district of Cobo Calleja in Fuenlabrada. In recent years, the imported goods were cleared at customs in Portugal and then shipped to Spain, this way evading or obstructing Spanish Tax Agency controls.

During the operation, police confiscated 77,000 euros in cash, bank accounts were blocked for the amount of 1.5 million euros and goods were seized to the value of 2.5 million euros. Nine people were arrested, five of whom remain in custody without bail.

The operation included the collaboration of civil servants from the Network Division and the Central Unit of IT Audits of the National Office of Fraud Investigation, of the Inspection Unit of Valencia and Madrid, staff of the IT Audit Unit of Alicante and Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency of the Regions of Valencia, Andalusia, Extremadura and Castila la Mancha.