Italian police have arrested 11 individuals suspected of playing key roles in a massive €520 million ($604 million) value-added tax (VAT) fraud scheme allegedly supported by the Camorra, a notorious Italian crime syndicate, according to a statement released Tuesday by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).

Camorra Ties and “Mafia Methods”

The arrests stem from an ongoing probe, code-named Moby Dick, which has uncovered what the EPPO describes as a fraud operation of “unprecedented complexity and efficiency.” The suspects are believed to have used “mafia methods” to launder illegal proceeds from fraudulent VAT invoices. The EPPO says the network was abetted by specific Camorra clans, deepening concerns about the continued entanglement of organized crime in high-level financial schemes.

Scope of the Fraud and Investigation

Between 2020 and 2023, the network is alleged to have issued over €1.3 billion in fake invoices for high-value electronic goods such as AirPods and laptops. Of this, €520 million is considered the criminal proceeds of the fraud.

Authorities are pursuing a widening investigation involving:

• 159 individuals under scrutiny,

• More than 400 companies implicated across Europe.

This comes on the heels of a major international enforcement operation in November 2023, which resulted in 43 arrests across 10 countries. The suspected mastermind of the operation evaded that sweep but turned himself in at an Italian airport in May 2025.

Ongoing International Enforcement

The Italian State Police and the Italian Financial Police executed the most recent arrests, in coordination with the EPPO. The names of the arrested individuals have not been disclosed. The investigation continues to expand, highlighting the transnational nature of financial fraud and the persistent influence of mafia groups in European economic crimes.