In January 2021, German authorities, supported by eleven European countries and Eurojust, revealed a major tax swindle involving sales of fuel that allegedly defrauded German tax authorities of approximately €8 million.

The so-called “dieselising lubricants” criminal scheme involved suspects pretending to sell solvents and anti-corrosion agents or liquids exempt from energy taxation while, in reality, they were selling products containing high quantities of diesel and petrol fuels that are not exempt from energy taxation.

As a result of this operation, two of the alleged leaders of the criminal network involved were arrested.