Police arrest 43, seize 520 million euros in Europe-wide probe into mafia and tax evasion

MILAN (Reuters) - Police across Europe arrested 43 people and seized 520 million euros ($547 million) in a European investigation into a criminal conspiracy to evade VAT through money laundering and mafia activity, the European public prosecutors' office (EPPO)and Italian police said on Thursday.

They said the investigation concerns tax fraud in the trading of IT products and electronic devices within the EU and involves around 400 companies with 200 suspects, mainly in Italy and several European countries, but also in the United Arab Emirates.