# European VAT carousel fraud investigations > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-vat-carousel-fraud-investigations > Updated: 2026-10-09T17:48:25.000Z. Sources: 35. Developments: 3. European authorities, coordinated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), have conducted major operations to dismantle international VAT carousel fraud networks involving electronic goods. In one investigation, known as Operation Hermes, authorities targeted a scheme involving the trade of mobile phones and electronic devices. This operation led to the detention of dozens of suspects, including 39 individuals in Portugal, as well as suspects in Italy and Spain. The EPPO estimated total losses across multiple member states reached at least 410 million euros, with the Portuguese state alone losing over 150 million euros. In Italy, the investigation implicated 93 companies and identified false invoices totaling over 450 million euros between 2022 and 2025. Recent developments in Operation Hermes include orders from the Lisbon Judicial Court for the preventive detention of 11 defendants. The investigation has involved 248 searches across various municipalities, such as Aveiro and Oliveira de Azemais. Legal proceedings have been split into two processes: one involving 21 defendants, where 11 are in preventive detention and 10 are out on bail, and a second process involving four defendants focused on qualified tax fraud. In the latter, three individuals were ordered to pay bail between 50,000 and 100,000 euros and must adhere to weekly reporting and contact prohibitions. A separate but related dismantling of a criminal network focused on computer products. This operation resulted in approximately 100 arrests across Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Malta. In Spain, investigators identified a Valencia-based company with Italian ownership as the center of a scheme that allegedly defrauded the Spanish Treasury of over 70 million euros since 2018. Law enforcement seized various assets, including cash, gold, jewelry, and frozen real estate valued at over seven million euros. ## Claims - Operation Hermes involved the detention of 39 suspects in Portugal. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The alleged tax fraud in Portugal is estimated to have caused losses of over 150 million euros. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The investigation is directed by the European Public Prosecutor's Office regarding VAT fraud in the mobile phone trade. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The Lisbon Judicial Court ordered preventive detention for 11 defendants in Operation Hermes. (corroborated by 2 sources) - In a separate process involving four defendants, three were ordered to pay bail up to 100,000 euros. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Authorities conducted 248 searches across Portugal as part of the operation. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-09: Operation Hermes: 11 defendants detained in Portuguese VAT fraud probe In Operation Hermes, Portuguese authorities have detained 39 suspects in a mobile phone VAT fraud scheme estimated to have cost the state over 150 million euros. Eleven defendants are in preventive detention. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/operation-hermes-11-defendants-detained-in-portuguese-vat-fraud-probe ### 2026-10-09: European authorities dismantle 70-million-euro VAT fraud network A major European police operation has dismantled an international VAT fraud network, arresting 100 people and uncovering a 70-million-euro scheme involving computer products and shell companies. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-tax-agency-investigates-12-million-mobile-phone-fraud-in-mlaga ### 2026-10-07: Operation Hermes uncovers massive European VAT fraud scheme Operation Hermes has uncovered a massive European VAT fraud scheme involving mobile phones, resulting in dozens of arrests in Portugal and Italy and estimated losses of over 410 million euros across the EU. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/portugal-launches-major-operation-against-130-million-euro-fraud --- Cite as: European VAT carousel fraud investigations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-vat-carousel-fraud-investigations