A joint operation by the Tax Agency and the Guardia Civil

• During the 19 search and seizure operations carried out, 11 people were arrested and another eight are being investigated.

• Seven million euros worth of cryptoassets have been seized and a request has been made to block another 19 million euros

February 6, 2025.- The Tax Agency and the Civil Guard, with the support of Europol, have dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to carrying out VAT fraud operations in the hydrocarbon sector and money laundering, all within the framework of what has been called operation 'Quíone'.

The operation, initiated by the Tax Agency and the Central Operative Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard, focused on the possible instrumentalization of one of the investigated companies dedicated to accumulating defrauded VAT quotas. These facts were brought to the attention of the Special Prosecutor's Office against Corruption and Organized Crime, which opened the appropriate investigation proceedings.

During the operation, 19 raids and searches were carried out and a judicial request for information was made. In addition, 11 people have been arrested and another eight have been investigated.

During the raids and searches, a large volume of documentation, numerous computer devices, worth around 150,000 euros in cash, and four motor vehicles were seized.

On the other hand, as regards cryptoassets, seven million euros have been seized and the blocking of a further 19 million euros has been requested. A large number of movable and immovable assets and bank accounts linked to the individuals and legal entities under investigation have also been frozen.

Fraud of 184 million in fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023

These initial investigations were accompanied by a report from the State Tax Administration Agency (AEAT) which quantifies the fraud perpetrated by this criminal organisation at 184 million euros, which would have been committed in the fiscal years 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Structure and operation of the criminal organization

The criminal organization used a large business conglomerate that would have operated in a coordinated and orchestrated manner with the aim of perfecting the fraud. To do this, they used purely instrumental companies which, in addition to ensuring the success of the criminal operation, made it difficult to detect.

These companies transferred billing and purchased fuel, pretending to have a legal activity. On the other hand, and within the same business architecture, there were companies intended to accumulate fraud quotas, that is, whose purpose was to avoid paying VAT quotas to the Treasury, thus avoiding the payment of this tax.

All the companies used operated in a coordinated manner by the leaders of the criminal organization, with a clear unity of action. Furthermore, the companies were formally headed by people who were subordinate to the orders of the real leaders and ultimate beneficiaries of this criminal conduct.

Performances and results

On February 4, ordered by the Examining Magistrates' Court, various investigations were carried out in the provinces of Madrid, Guadalajara, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Castellón, Alicante and Ciudad Real, carried out by members of the ONIF, the Inspection units of Madrid and Zaragoza and the computer audit units, all of them from the Tax Agency.

Likewise, members of the UCO participated on behalf of the Civil Guard, supported by other Units (Reserve and Security Group, Technical Unit of Judicial Police, Canine Service, as well as Units of the Civil Guard Commands territorially affected), in addition to the operation involving Europol, which sent a mobile office to Spain with a national expert and technical means to support the cloning of computer devices.

The investigation was led by the Central Court of Instruction No. 4 of the National Court and the Special Prosecutor's Office against Corruption and Organized Crime.