News

Today the European Commission has adopted its 2021 Annual Report on the protection of the EU’s financial interests (“PIF” report). According to the report, the number of detected and reported cases of fraud and irregularities remained stable in 2021 with over 11 000 reported.

A few incidents of fraud and phishing attempts using hoax messages, letters and scam phone calls purporting to be from OLAF, the European Anti-Fraud Office have been detected.

A joint raid by OLAF investigators and officers from the Masovian Customs and Tax Office (Warsaw) resulted in the seizure of 8000 counterfeit toys with an estimated value of €113,000 (PLN 535,000) from an outlet housed in a wholesale shopping centre on the outskirts of Warsaw.

Representatives from EU and Norwegian organisations took part in a two-day conference entitled “Fighting Environmental Crimes Together With EU” in Norway, on 22 and 23 August 2022.

The seventh edition of Operation Silver Axe ran between January and April 2022 and focused on ports, airports and other entry points where the import and export of illegal and counterfeit pesticides could be detected.

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has taken part in a Joint Operation, which dismantled a sophisticated Spain-based criminal network involved in the illicit import, and trade of, refrigerant gases. Operation Marum led to the arrest of 27 people and the seizure of 110 tonnes of harmful gases.

On 27 and 28 June, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and its African partners met in Brussels to discuss how to strengthen cooperation in the fight against fraud and corruption.

European eels are a critically endangered species and a prey to smugglers. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) supported Europol-led Operation Lake, which led to the seizure of well over 1 tonne of glass eels from the hands of traffickers.  

The Slovak AFCOS/Unit National Office for OLAF of the control section within the Slovak Government Office, together with the partners of the AFCOS network, have published their Annual Report on Activities in the Protection of the EU’s Financial Interests in the Slovak Republic.

Representatives from customs and police from EU and selected third countries, EU and international public bodies and right holders from the wine and spirits’ industry met in Alicante, Spain, on 16-17 June for a conference on fraud related to intellectual property rights and counterfeiting.