Slovak custom officers will be called to answer to some tough questions. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has reportedly found evidence suggesting custom-related fraud worth millions of euros.
The alleged fraud took place in 2013 and 2014 and the customs that the EU lost exceed €300m.
As reported by The Slovak Spectator, Slovak authorities have either overlooked or directly cooperated on the fraudulent transactions, with the second option being much more probable, according to experts on customs.
According to OLAF, goods from China were first shipped to the German port in Hamburg where they were loaded on trucks and taken for the custom process to another member state (the UK, Slovakia, Czech Republic, France or Malta) where it was possible to lower the value of the goods to secure lower custom fees.
OLAF recommended the European Commission demand the lost money from the countries that allowed this. Slovakia is among them, but it is not clear for now if the country will have to pay the EU.
Meanwhile, Slovakia’s finance ministry has requested additional explanation from OLAF.
