A suspected fraudster with Danish citizenship had probably imagined his long-awaited reunion with his wife very differently. Instead of heading off on a planned family vacation with his loved one, he went straight to prison. The Kenyan security authorities were already waiting on the spot and arrested him. The Dane had been able to hide for six months, fleeing from Europe to Africa. His escape finally came to an end in Kenya. His own relatives put the investigators on the right track. The 50-year-old now has to answer for his actions in Germany. In order to convict him, investigators from the State Criminal Police Office of North Rhine-Westphalia (LKA NRW) followed him to the distant continent.

Accessed after several months of surveillance

What sounds like the story of a thrilling crime novel recently took place. The seizure took place after a surveillance operation lasting several months at the end of May in Kenya. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), Danish security authorities, the Nuremberg tax investigation department, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the State Criminal Police Office of North Rhine-Westphalia worked closely together across borders to track him down through joint investigations. The agreed meeting with his wife, who was traveling behind him for a vacation, finally provided the right time and place to apprehend the suspect.

Investigations under the code name Goliath

Under the code name Goliath, the EUSta center in Hamburg carried out preliminary investigations. As the alleged mastermind of a criminal organization, the suspect is accused of being jointly responsible for a fraudulent VAT carousel amounting to 85 million euros. A lot of money that is said to have been generated through the illegal international trade in consumer electronics. A complex system is said to have been used to circumvent EU regulations for cross-border transactions. Some of the illegal transactions were carried out in North Rhine-Westphalia, which is why the LKA NRW is heavily involved in the investigation. The reason for the suspect's escape was an operation against the criminal organization that took place in Denmark, Düsseldorf and Dortmund on 22 November 2023. Another suspected mastermind of the fraudulent scheme was also arrested during this operation.

Dane was detained in Nairobi for over a week
 

The suspect who has now been arrested is now in custody in Germany. At the request of the EUStA, a European arrest warrant was issued and transferred from Africa to Europe by investigators from the Organized Crime Unit of the LKA NRW. The Dane was then arrested at Frankfurt Airport at the beginning of June, having previously spent over a week in prison in Nairobi.

Consequent action against crimes such as money laundering and corruption
 

The uncomplicated, transnational cooperation was primarily made possible by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), which has been in existence since June 2021. The EPPO - also known as the European Public Prosecutor's Office - is based in Luxembourg and is an independent institution of the European Union. It was established to combat criminal offenses that harm the common financial interests of the EU. The work of the EPPO is intended to better protect European taxpayers' money. The aim is to take consistent action against crimes such as money laundering, corruption and cross-border VAT fraud. To this end, it works closely with national public prosecutors, investigative authorities and European offices.

Cross-border cooperation between member states
 

Before the EPPO began its work three years ago, only national authorities were able to investigate and prosecute fraud against the EU budget. The fact that their powers ended at national borders proved to be a problem. Now, however, the EPPO can investigate directly in all of the 23 participating member states and the perpetrators can be charged in national criminal courts.