An investigation has uncovered around €10m worth of bribes being paid by farmers to Slovak officials to illegitimately access EU agricultural funds.
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) released its annual report, which found the office exposed fraud involving over €870m in misused European Union funds, also including counterfeit pesticides in Romania.
In March 2024, OLAF closed the last of its six investigations into the Dobytkár case, a corruption scandal relating to stock breeding in Slovakia.
Working with Slovak national law enforcement and judiciary, OLAF helped uncover systemic and widespread use of bribes to ensure the approval of rural development projects for EU co-financed payments from 2015 until 2020.
Investigation
OLAF’s investigations focused on 39 projects, including the purchase of heavy farming equipment, modernisation of farming infrastructure and renovation of rural premises.
The investigations also found numerous irregularities occurred, including conflict of interest, tender manipulation, irregular sub-contracting, inflated project costs and improper implementation.
The office recommended the recovery of €7.5m paid from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the immediate reimbursement of €2.5m of European Investment Bank loans, which had contributed national support to the projects.
Specific criminal acts by suspected beneficiaries, suppliers, consultants and individuals associated with the projects were reported to the Slovak judicial authorities.
Counterfeit pesticides
A shipment of 1,000l of counterfeit crop protection products manufactured outside the European Union, valued at over €600,000, was also seized in Romania.
OLAF provided the Romanian authorities with intelligence that led to the successful interception of the illegal counterfeit pesticides being smuggled into the country.
The operation, led by the Bihor County Police Inspectorate and the Economic Crimes Investigation Department of the Romanian Police, resulted in the arrest of two Ukrainian nationals suspected of involvement in the illicit trafficking.
Counterfeit pesticides represent a serious threat to both the European market and the environment.
Unregulated products often fail to meet proper safety standards, putting crops and farmers at risk, while also undermining legitimate businesses and damaging the environment and biodiversity.
Read more
Butcher shop and wholesaler handed prohibition orders
Italian police arrest 12 involved in €12.5m CAP fraud case
An investigation has uncovered around €10m worth of bribes being paid by farmers to Slovak officials to illegitimately access EU agricultural funds.
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) released its annual report, which found the office exposed fraud involving over €870m in misused European Union funds, also including counterfeit pesticides in Romania.
In March 2024, OLAF closed the last of its six investigations into the Dobytkár case, a corruption scandal relating to stock breeding in Slovakia.
Working with Slovak national law enforcement and judiciary, OLAF helped uncover systemic and widespread use of bribes to ensure the approval of rural development projects for EU co-financed payments from 2015 until 2020.
Investigation
OLAF’s investigations focused on 39 projects, including the purchase of heavy farming equipment, modernisation of farming infrastructure and renovation of rural premises.
The investigations also found numerous irregularities occurred, including conflict of interest, tender manipulation, irregular sub-contracting, inflated project costs and improper implementation.
The office recommended the recovery of €7.5m paid from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the immediate reimbursement of €2.5m of European Investment Bank loans, which had contributed national support to the projects.
Specific criminal acts by suspected beneficiaries, suppliers, consultants and individuals associated with the projects were reported to the Slovak judicial authorities.
Counterfeit pesticides
A shipment of 1,000l of counterfeit crop protection products manufactured outside the European Union, valued at over €600,000, was also seized in Romania.
OLAF provided the Romanian authorities with intelligence that led to the successful interception of the illegal counterfeit pesticides being smuggled into the country.
The operation, led by the Bihor County Police Inspectorate and the Economic Crimes Investigation Department of the Romanian Police, resulted in the arrest of two Ukrainian nationals suspected of involvement in the illicit trafficking.
Counterfeit pesticides represent a serious threat to both the European market and the environment.
Unregulated products often fail to meet proper safety standards, putting crops and farmers at risk, while also undermining legitimate businesses and damaging the environment and biodiversity.
Read more
Butcher shop and wholesaler handed prohibition orders
Italian police arrest 12 involved in €12.5m CAP fraud case
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