This news item summarises OLAF’s operational work from January to May 2023 in chronological order:

• 23 February 2023: OLAF concludes investigations into a project in Hungary which was designed to equip elementary and high schools with digital technologies. The project was funded by the European Social Fund. OLAF detected several breaches in public procurement procedures and recommends that the competent Commission directorate recovers more than 3.6 million.
• 29 March 2023: OLAF is awarded the Montreal Protocol Award for Customs and Enforcement Officers for its work against smuggling in ozone-depleting substances and fluorinated global warming substances controlled under the Montreal Protocol. Tackling illicit trade in climate-damaging gases has been one of OLAF’s operational priorities for several years. OLAF’s operations led to the seizure and detention of almost 800 tonnes of illegal refrigerants over the past few years.
• 31 March 2023: OLAF reports that it supported the successful seizure of 11 tonnes of pesticides in a joint action with the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency and the Bulgarian National Police General Directorate. Investigators found several violations, including the trade with banned substances in the EU. OLAF stressed that several illicit substances seized are very dangerous for human health and bees.
• 10 May 2023: In a joint action, French and Spanish authorities with the support of OLAF, Europol, and Eurojust are able to dismantle an organised crime group that illegally breeded and trafficked eels. 1.5 tonnes of live eels were seized, 27 persons arrested and financial assets valued at €2 million frozen.