19 house searches carried out in Operation Ikarus in Austria and Greece; Group of perpetrators evaded over 10 million euros in taxes
Vienna (OTS) – At the beginning of March, 19 house searches were carried out in the illegal gambling scene in Austria and Greece. The organized group of perpetrators, which ran several illegal gambling establishments as well as a network of front and shell companies, had been intensively investigated for several months in cooperative case management with the Federal Criminal Police Office and the BMF’s Anti-Fraud Office. The economic and corruption public prosecutor’s office, as head of the investigation, accuses the perpetrators of tax fraud in the double-digit million range, organized undeclared work and social benefit fraud.
“The visible success here in combating illegal gambling shows how well and efficiently all the authorities involved worked together across borders. Thanks to the investigations led by the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, the crimes of an internationally active group of perpetrators were successfully uncovered and stopped. I would like to thank all colleagues involved from the judiciary, police and financial police for this important blow against organized illegal gambling,” said Justice Minister Alma Zadić.
“The close networking and good cooperation between the different authorities guarantees the successful fight against illegal gambling. This success shows that the investigators’ persistence is bearing fruit. Illegal gambling has no player protection and can destroy livelihoods. Every illegal machine removed from circulation is an important building block in the fight against illegal gambling, which we will continue unabated. I would like to thank all the emergency services involved. Because no matter what uniform they wear, their common goal is the security of Austria,” emphasizes Finance Minister Magnus Brunner.
“The investigators at the Federal Criminal Police Office are doing outstanding work in the determined fight against illegal migration. The networking between the ministries, but above all international cooperation, are a crucial factor,” said Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.
“Through perseverance and excellent cooperation between the investigators from the financial and criminal police and the WKSta, we have succeeded in striking a blow against organized crime in illegal gambling. I congratulate everyone involved in OP IKARUS on this great success,” said Andreas Holzer, head of the BKA.
165 officers deployed on house searches in Austria
During the order period, a total of 165 emergency services from the financial police, the tax investigation, the tax office for special responsibilities, the Austrian customs office, the Federal Criminal Police Office, the EKO Cobra, the Vienna State Criminal Police Office and the SRK Upper Austria responded to 16 locations in Upper and Lower Austria on behalf of the Economic and Corruption Prosecutor’s Office a. At the same time, the Greek financial police carried out three house searches in Athens and the surrounding area.
Large network of fake companies and residences established
Numerous properties – including gaming establishments, company headquarters and private apartments belonging to the perpetrator group – were searched and several hundred gambling establishments, PCs, countless documents, large amounts of cash including the contents of bank safe deposit boxes were confiscated and accounts were frozen. The perpetrators operated dozens of bars with illegal gambling machines in Upper Austria through a network of front companies and fake residences, which were electronically controlled and monitored from Greece.
In close cooperation between the Office for Combating Fraud and the Department for Combating Organized Gambling of the Federal Criminal Police Office, investigations under the name “OP IKARUS” have been carried out for some time against several people from the Greek-Austrian group of perpetrators.
More than ten million euros in taxes evaded
As part of the investigation, it was discovered that more than ten million euros had been evaded in gambling tax and sales tax alone. In addition, there is also a concrete suspicion that social security contributions amounting to several hundred thousand euros were withheld from social security through organized undeclared work and that the corresponding income taxes were never paid. Several people also received unemployment benefits while working in illegal gambling establishments.
Warehouse served as a workshop for gaming machines
During the searches, all of the accused were identified and questioned. As a result, a warehouse in the Linz-Land district was also searched, which served as a service and repair workshop and from which all illegal bars were supplied with machines. In addition to the highly professional workshop, extensive insights into the monitoring of illegal bars were also gained. The group of perpetrators wanted to protect themselves and had equipped all premises with electronic access restrictions, extensive video surveillance around the clock and remote access to the devices in order to thwart official controls. The investigation is currently ongoing.
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