eight people arrested in Belgium and Luxembourg
Some 80 investigators from the Federal Judicial Police (PJF) of Brussels, accompanied by 26 social inspectors, and with the support of Europol, carried out on Tuesday around thirty simultaneous searches in Belgium, Italy and Luxembourg, in the part of an investigation into a large-scale social dumping fraud.
Eight were arrested and referred to the Belgian investigating judge in charge of the case, and one person was placed under a European arrest warrant in Italy. Some 32 luxury vehicles were seized as well as a sum of approximately 300,000 euros in cash.
“This file was initiated following observations made on a site by the Control of Social Laws (CLS). In charge of the investigation, the Brussels labor auditor, a public prosecutor’s office specializing in social law, decided to put the case under investigation.“, explained the latter, in a statement Tuesday evening.”Under the direction of the investigating judge, the investigation attracted and resulted in the operation of this October 19“.
Romanian workers
A network of Belgian and foreign companies, and their managers, are suspected of bringing Romanian workers to Belgium via companies established in various European countries, without respecting European and national rules on posting and worker subjugation. social security and working conditions, including remuneration.
As part of the searches launched on Tuesday, the Brussels PJF received the support of Europol and Italian and Luxembourg police.
In addition to luxury vehicles and cash, real estate was also seized, as well as many miscellaneous valuables.
“This dossier reflects the priority that the public prosecutor gives to the fight against serious and organized social fraud in general and to the fight against social dumping in particular.“, commented the auditor.