The Netherlands’ Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) has arrested and 13 people on suspicion of money laundering, forgery, fraud and tax fraud. The primary suspect in the FIOD’s investigation is a 45-year-old woman from The Hague.
Authorities have searched the primary suspect’s residential and business premises. They have seized her home, physical and digital administration, bank accounts and cash worth 50,000 euros ($60,550). The authorities also found keys to two rented lockers at the suspect’s residence. These lockers were being used to conceal 115,000 euros ($139,266) in cash. The FIOD has also seized the bank accounts and homes of the other suspects.
The FIOD suspects that prime suspect’s administrative office created false purchase invoices worth at least 1.2 million euros ($1.45m) for many customers so could pay lesser tax. The suspects used to deposit money into the accounts of the companies that issued the fake invoices and immediately withdraw it in cash for distribution among the suspects. Moreover, they also transferred cash to the bank accounts of the suspects as ‘salary’. Authorities believe that the primary suspect created false employment contracts, employer statements and/or pay slips. The suspects then used these documents to obtain loans, mortgages etc.
Source: Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD), Netherlands