VAT fraud involving luxury cars: criminal network dismantled in Touraine
Police in Indre-et-Loire have dismantled an organisation that imported luxury cars from Germany without paying VAT. Six suspects have been arrested and the damage is estimated at three million euros.
VAT fraud involving luxury cars: criminal network dismantled in Touraine
Investigators from the departmental police force of Indre-et-Loire have ended the activities of a criminal group specialised in fraudulent importation of high-end vehicles. On Monday 15 June 2026, six individuals suspected of participating in this network were placed in police custody on the order of the public prosecutor's office in Tours.
These persons are accused of having set up a system of purchase and resale of German saloons and sports cars. To evade the tax authorities, they used shell companies and forged documents in order to register these vehicles in France without paying the required taxes. The case dates back to March 2022.
The shortfall for the State's coffers is estimated at three million euros. The total volume of transactions carried out by this gang over a period of just over four years represents approximately five times this sum.
During searches conducted by law enforcement, ten high-powered vehicles were recovered, valued at 500,000 euros in total. The seizures also include 6,715 euros in cash, gold valued at 19,000 euros, and 13,000 euros in bank accounts. Household equipment, designer clothing and three properties have also been confiscated, these assets having been acquired through the proceeds of the fraud.
On 17 June 2026, two of the suspects were imprisoned following their committal for trial. The others were placed under judicial supervision.
Source: Google News FR — Crime (fr)