The €520 million VAT fraud scheme Moby Dick was once again the focus of anoperation on 25 June 2025, when Italian authorities arrested 11 suspects at the request of the EPPO in Milan and Palermo. The syndicate is suspected of laundering the proceeds of VAT fraud, allegedly using Mafia methods. They also appear to be aiding and abetting the Camorra criminal organisation.

The investigation, codenamed "Moby Dick", began in November 2024 and has involved more than ten countries, with 43 suspects already arrested (→the eucrim report on EPPO's operational activities in issue 4/2024, 279). To date, 95 individuals are under investigation, involving more than 400 companies. A freezing order totalling over €520 million has been issued to compensate for damage to the EU and national budgets. In Italy alone, authorities froze 129 bank accounts and seized 192 real estate properties, along with 44 luxury cars and boats. The EPPO stressed that the level of complexity and efficiency of the criminal syndicate behind "Moby Dick" is unprecedented; investigations revealed close links to clans of the Camorra criminal organisation.