{
  "id": 18320492,
  "title": "Major operation: 13 arrests in million-dollar tax fraud involving luxury cars",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/gro-aktion-13-festnahmen-in-millionen-steuerbetrug-mit-luxusautos",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-05T14:42:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/international/grossaktion-13-festnahmenin-millionen-steuerbetrug-mit-luxusautos/100267643.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "A large-scale operation involving 900 personnel from various authorities took place in five EU countries, including Germany, to combat alleged tax fraud using luxury cars worth millions. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (Eppo) reported that 13 people were arrested in Germany and Austria, and over 50 suspects are being investigated for causing an estimated 100 million euros in damages. The alleged fraud involved a complex system of carousel fraud, where companies in Berlin imported luxury cars and avoided paying value-added tax. Authorities seized numerous assets, including bank accounts, vehicles, cash, and luxury goods, and froze several properties, including a hostel in Berlin.",
  "summary": "Importing luxury cars, reselling them - and keeping the sales tax: That's how criminals are said to have cheated millions. What role are companies in Berlin supposed to have played?",
  "key_points": [
    "13 individuals arrested in Germany and four EU nations",
    "Investigations against over 50 suspects, potential damages of €100 million",
    "Scheme involved \"Carousel\" fraud, avoided VAT on luxury car imports"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}