Police raid on taxi network: Over 50 vehicles missing and tens of millions of kroner in fraud
Police searched five addresses in Eastern Norway and charged six people with serious fraud. Over 50 taxis – expensive Mercedes, Lexus and BMW models – have disappeared without trace.
Police raid uncovers massive fraud in bankrupt taxi network
Police searched five addresses in Eastern Norway last week as part of an investigation into a network of bankrupt taxi companies, according to vg.no, which was present during the operation at an office facility in Oslo.
Drawers and cupboards were turned inside out. Computer equipment, receipts, documents and car keys were seized.
– We have investigated a network of companies in the taxi industry over time. We are investigating serious fraud and money laundering, where the taxi companies appear to have been used as instruments for the criminal activity, says police prosecutor Alexander Bjorvatn Øien from Oslo police district to vg.no.
A total of six people have been charged with serious fraud. – This concerns tens of millions of kroner, says the police prosecutor.
55-year-old previously convicted man central to the network
Central to the network of taxi companies is a previously convicted 55-year-old man. Until 2023, he was subject to bankruptcy prohibition, which prevents a person from establishing or operating new companies after having been involved in a bankruptcy.
On paper, he is not registered in any formal roles in any of the taxi companies that police are now investigating – except for a power of attorney to act on behalf of one of the companies.
In conversation with vg.no, the man himself has explained his role:
– I run operations in all the companies you have mentioned. I am the one who is in charge. It is a family business. We are the ones who run everything. It is me.
His solicitor, Unni Fries, confirms that the 55-year-old points to himself as the main person responsible for running the taxi companies.
Bankruptcy trustees discovered suspicion of legal violations
vg.no has in recent months followed the courts' handling of the bankruptcies in several of the affected taxi companies. Bankruptcy trustees – solicitors who administer and investigate bankruptcy estates – have in their reports to the court indicated suspicion of several legal violations, including registration crime and money laundering.
– In cases of registration crime and money laundering through companies, it is common to have fictitious information about who is behind the companies. This can concern board members, employees and persons with other roles, says police prosecutor Øien.
The bankruptcy trustees' investigations show that the taxi companies have millions in debt. Unpaid car loans make up a large part of the claims. In addition to this are unpaid invoices for parking, fuel, towing, repairs, insurance – collectively amounts in the millions according to the reports to the courts. Toll companies are claiming a total of over one million kroner. Neither rent nor telephone bills have been paid, and taxes, duties and VAT are unpaid.
Over 50 taxis disappeared without trace
When the taxi companies went bankrupt, the bankruptcy trustees discovered that large sums of money had disappeared. Several of the vehicles, which allegedly had been used in the taxi business, were impossible to trace.
Mercedes, Lexus and BMW models – expensive and relatively new vehicles purchased on credit and with large debts – are among the missing vehicles. vg.no's review of the bankruptcy trustees' reports from before summer shows that the companies in question are registered as owners of over 50 vehicles that have now disappeared. Several of the vehicles are registered as stolen and sought by police.
One bankruptcy trustee writes that she has been informed that 23 vehicles were sold and transported abroad – shortly before the bankruptcy. According to the bankruptcy trustee, the money from these sales never entered the company in question.
The 55-year-old has explained to vg.no that the vehicles that were sold abroad were replaced with new vehicles after Oslo introduced a requirement in 2024 that all taxis must be electric vehicles. According to him, it was not possible to sell the loan-financed petrol vehicles in Norway, and they were therefore sold abroad. He claims that everything proceeded correctly and that there is documentation that should have been handed over to police.
– We are actively working to locate the proceeds, identify where it has ended up, and map out who has had contact with it. During the investigation, we have located several vehicles. Debt collection agencies have secured some of them, says police prosecutor Øien.
Millions transferred to the 55-year-old and his family
Shortly before several of the bankruptcies, bank transactions show that large sums of money were transferred from the taxi companies to the 55-year-old and his family members – according to the bankruptcy trustees. vg.no's review shows that at least 5.5 million kroner were transferred to the persons in question. Such payments made shortly before a bankruptcy can be illegal and can be required to be repaid.
– The investigation in this case seeks to uncover what roles the various persons have had in the companies. And if the roles are pro forma, we are trying to get answers on why this has been the case, says Øien.
Arrested and released – denies guilt
The 55-year-old was arrested and questioned last week, after which he was released.
– At the request of police, he has answered the questions they have put to him. He does not accept criminal responsibility for serious fraud. The case must now be investigated further, so there is limited what I can comment on further, says solicitor Unni Fries.
The 55-year-old has previously been convicted of fraud, assault and drug-related crime and has also previously been investigated for irregularities in a taxi company he operated, according to criminal records that vg.no has obtained access to. vg.no is not aware of how the other charged parties in the case regard the allegations of serious fraud.
Source: Google News DK — Crime (da)