Polish "fuel gang" broken up

As many as 13 people were taken into custody regarding illegal fuel trade in Poland, the press reported. The gang's operations could have cost the state treasury up to PLN 330 million. "The investigation has been ongoing for a few months ... The international group using the so-called disappearing tax-payer mechanism, was importing fuel to Poland from other EU countries without submitting required declarations and without paying value added tax," Katarzyna Balcer, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBŚ) spokesperson said. The gang was marketing the fuel by making fictional deals and cooperating with various associations, the police informed.