News

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Cyprus Anti-Fraud Coordination Service (AFCOS) are hosting the 2nd Technical Workshop on Digital Anti-Fraud Tools in Lemesos, Cyprus.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), in cooperation with the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union and AFCOS Cyprus, hosted the 4th annual OLAF Expenditure Conference this week in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. 

The European Anti-Fraud Office, together with customs authorities from 30 countries, has successfully carried out a large-scale operation targeting the illicit trade in e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

More than 7.8 million counterfeit and dangerous toys have been seized by customs authorities across 13 EU Member States during operations coordinated by the European Anti-Fraud Office.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) led a large-scale joint customs operation conducted by the customs administrations of 40 partner countries in Asia and Europe under the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), with the support of the World Customs Organization (WCO).

The European Anti-fraud Office (OLAF) played a key role in investigating a sophisticated fraud and money laundering scheme involving European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) resources, with an estimated financial impact of EUR 9.5 million.

A major customs operation has uncovered illicit movements of €18 million of cash potentially linked to money laundering, transnational criminal activities and terrorism financing. Operation BELENOS, led by the French Customs authorities, was carried out in 25 EU Member States.

One week of operations coordinated by the Dutch authorities and supported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and Europol resulted in the seizure of at least 2100 cylinders of illicit HFCs – hydrofluorocarbons – for an estimated value of over 10 million euros.

Operation LUDUS led to the seizure of almost 5 million toys, for a total worth of over €16 million. The operation ran between 19 October 2020 and 31 January 2021 – that is, around the past winter holiday season, a busy period for shoppers looking to buy gifts for children. 

Customs and police authorities have seized over 1 million litres of counterfeit wine and alcoholic beverages in a targeted action led by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) as part of a joint Europol-Interpol operation dubbed OPSON IX.