The National Police’s Economic and Financial Crimes Unit (UDEF) arrested 23 people The European Anti-Fraud Prosecutor’s Office, which is conducting the investigation for allegedly influencing the EU budget, published a report this Thursday, alleging that four cities in Andalusia are part of a criminal network that allegedly committed fraud on EU agricultural subsidies.
The arrests took place on 25 and 26 September. Córdoba, Seville, Écija and Jerez de la Frontera It was also allowed to intervene in various bank accounts and properties of people under investigation.
According to the European Anti-Fraud Prosecutor’s Office, the detained applicants, Common Agricultural Policy The European Union leases land to meet its surface area (hectare) requirements and thus receive the requested assistance, but it has no ownership rights over the land they offer.
The statement describes a celebratory “complex criminal system involving several companies” Forged contracts regarding the transfer of use of land, The real owners are unaware that they are being used fraudulently.
It is stated that the damage to Europe’s coffers is estimated approximately. three million euros The detainees were provisionally charged with subsidy fraud and document forgery.
The investigation started in 2022 upon a complaint sent by the USA. Ministry of Agriculture Government of Andalusia