Polish police detain 14 in swoop on fuel gang

Fourteen people have been detained after Polish authorities swooped on a gang suspected of a massive fuel scam, police said on Wednesday.

Picture released by Poland's Central Bureau of Police Investigation (CBŚP)

Photo: CBŚP/KAS

Nearly 250 police officers and tax officials took part in the crackdown. Searches were carried out at over 80 locations across Poland.

The gang sold diesel obtained from various types of oil without paying excise duty, and also forged VAT documents, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Officials estimate that the gang cheated the government out of PLN 40 million (EUR 9.3m, USD 10.3m) in unpaid taxes.

The 14 detained have been charged with taking part in organised crime, tax offences and money laundering.

(pk/gs)

Source: IAR