The Central Criminal Court of Lisbon commenced hearings on October 31, 2024, involving 26 defendants, including 11 individuals and 15 companies, linked to a significant VAT fraud case.

This case, known as Operation 'Admiral', represents the most complex investigation into VAT fraud conducted by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) to date.

The defendants, comprising nine Portuguese and two French nationals, are accused of operating a criminal organization that sold electronic goods across Europe while evading VAT payments.

Charges against the defendants include qualified tax fraud, money laundering, active and passive corruption in the private sector, and document forgery, with alleged offenses occurring between 2016 and November 2022.

The fraud is estimated to have caused losses of around 80 million euros in Portugal, with potential impacts on the EU and affected member states reaching up to 2.9 billion euros.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office is an independent entity within the EU, tasked with prosecuting crimes that undermine the financial interests of the union.

Currently, three defendants are in preventive detention, while one is under house arrest; additionally, 14 companies in Portugal and one in Cyprus are implicated in the case.

Defendants could face prison sentences of up to eight years for each count of qualified tax fraud, along with penalties for money laundering, corruption, and document forgery, while the accused companies may face fines or dissolution.

The court has scheduled 17 trial sessions until January 16, 2025, with additional hearings planned every Monday and Thursday as necessary until the trial concludes.

One defendant's case has been suspended pending compliance with specific obligations and will be addressed separately.