Six Arrested in Spain Over Fuel Tax Fraud Worth More Than €2 Million in One Year
Spain's Tax Agency and the Civil Guard announced on October 1 that they had dismantled a fuel distribution and sales tax fraud ring in the joint operation 'Visco/Vatoil', arresting six people and placing eight more under investigation. The organisation was based in the Region of Murcia and operated in Murcia, Alicante and other provinces, selling hydrocarbons outside fiscal control.
The investigation began when officers detected unusual movements at several companies that traded fuel without passing on the taxes levied on its sale. According to the Tax Agency, in 2025 alone, and in relation to just two of the companies under investigation, the ring failed to pay around €400,000 in VAT and more than €1,800,000 in the special tax on hydrocarbons, defrauding the public purse of more than €2 million in a single year.
During the operation, officers carried out six searches in the Region of Murcia, sealed three storage tanks containing 86,000 litres of fuel, shut the pumps at three service stations in Villajoyosa (Alicante), Miguelturra (Ciudad Real) and Linares (Jaén), and blocked more than 60 bank accounts linked to the network.
The detainees face charges of membership of a criminal organisation and, to varying degrees, offences against the public treasury, against consumers, damage, document forgery, fraud and money laundering. All have been brought before the Orihuela court. The operation was carried out by the Tax Agency's Customs Surveillance economic investigation unit in Alicante together with the Civil Guard's judicial police in Alicante, with support from the Murcia Civil Guard command.
(Source: Tax Agency of Spain)
Source: Tax Agency of Spain
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Avia gas station before Spain.jpg。CC BY 4.0 | DgOlsen，Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Avia gas station before Spain.jpg. CC BY 4.0 | DgOlsen, via Wikimedia Commons.
