CDCOC: VAT frauds defraud the revenue of nearly BGN 46 mln

Crimes involving the  illegal absorption of VAT  hold the highest share in Bulgaria. They have defrauded the revenue of nearly BGN 46 mln. This is one of the conclusions in the 2011 report-analysis of the Chief Directorate for Combating Organized Crime (CDCOC), published on the website of the Ministry of Interior. Out of the 250,000 businesses registered under VAT, some 12% have been involved in VAT draining schemes.

According to CDCOC, the number of persons involved in VAT frauds has been reduced in recent years, but the damages caused by unpaid VAT on the part of single offenders have increased. The identified by CDCOC damages amounted to over BGN 45,839,757. Some 11 criminal groups have been captured. There are some 17 new groups dealing with VAT frauds.

Computer crimes increased over the last year. Some 9 new criminal groups dealing with cybercrime were detained, which involved 61 people.

Two of the groups were engaged in child pornography. Two international operations were conducted in order to catch them. A total of 201,169 different items were seized bearing the logo of illegal foreign brands, which prevented damages of about BGN 72 mln. According to CDCOC the increasing availability of computer technologies is the reason for the growing number of cyber crimes. The data in the analysis indicates that 2.5 bn people worldwide use the Internet.

Damages from computer crime are estimated at over $1 trln worldwide.

“Last year, CDCOC officers participated in 65 international operations and parallel investigations. In Bulgaria, the department officials prevented the criminal activities of 254 organized criminal groups, out of which 115 with high  potential for crime,” stated the report.

Bulgaria continues to be deemed a transit country for all types of drugs. Heroin for Central and Western Europe was the most frequently trafficked drug in the country. Bulgaria is a destination for small amounts of cocaine. It is no longer assessed as a producer of amphetamine and is considered as a transit zone. Last year, the operation of a total of 66 criminal groups engaged in drug trafficking was suspended.

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