Italy’s €100 Million Plastics Fraud

European prosecutors have uncovered an alleged €100 million VAT fraud involving industrial plastics traded through shell companies across Europe. Between 2018 and 2023, investigators say the network issued €500 million in fictitious invoices, enabling below-market sales that harmed legitimate competitors. Eleven suspects were detained in October; twelve defendants have already been convicted. Further investigations continue, with additional suspects presumed innocent.