EU fraud files put VAT and customs losses at €45 billion

VAT and customs fraud account for more than two-thirds of the damage estimated in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s 2025 caseload. The office puts that figure at €45.01 billion, although those investigations make up just 27% of its active cases.

CompletedThe LedgersSource date · 2 March 2026

The record

Across all cases, estimated damage to EU and national budgets reached €67.27 billion, up from €24.8 billion a year earlier. EPPO reported 3,602 active investigations, 2,030 new cases and 275 indictments, with a 95% conviction rate. The asset figures show a separate gap: courts granted €1.13 billion in freezing orders, while €288.93 million was actually frozen.

Based on reporting from: EPPO; EPPO Annual Report 2025 summary.

Source documents

File updates

28 September 2026Status updated
Completed
Editorial research status recorded.
15 September 2026First published
Report published

Editorial note

This account draws on the publications listed below, compiled on 15 September 2026. Later developments have not been checked.

Submit a response or correction ↗

THE LEDGERS / COMMUNITY

Reader comments

Verified members can comment. Comments appear after editorial approval. Please address the evidence and avoid personal information.

No published comments yet.

THE LEDGERS / FOLLOW THE INVESTIGATION

Stay with the story.

Follow The Ledgers for new investigations, developments in our case files and videos.