The Director-General of OLAF, Mr Giovanni Kessler signed an Administrative Cooperation Arrangement on 3 May 2013 with Mr Rafiq Al-Natsheh, the President of the Palestinian Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). The Arrangement provides for closer operational cooperation between OLAF and the PACC, a specialised Palestinian investigation and prosecution body created in 2010 in order to reinforce fight against corruption and money laundering.
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OLAF has drawn attention in recent days to the fact that attempts are being made to give a false impression of issues relating to the investigation concerning former Commissioner Dalli.  These have included claims that a Report by the OLAF Supervisory Committee made statements which it did not make, and the circulation of documents described as extracts, summaries or preliminary copies of Reports or Opinions prepared by the Committee.  Notably, a 41 paragraph document of unknown origin is being falsely described as written by the OLAF Supervisory Committee. OLAF deplores these attempts to mislead and manipulate public opinion.

The OLAF Supervisory Committee presented its annual Report in the CONT Committee meeting of the European Parliament on 23 April. > Read more ...

Throughout the investigation, all interviews were carried out in full accordance with OLAF procedures and legal requirements, in the presence of two or more investigators. > Read more ...

Expanded version of the OLAF press notice.
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A German-Russian criminal was sentenced on March 11 to 9 years imprisonment by the Criminal Court Berlin-Moabit in Germany, following a complex international investigation co-ordinated by OLAF. The investigation involved authorities in Germany, Poland, Belgium, Latvia, Estonia and Switzerland as well as OLAF. The Berlin-based criminal was arrested by German Customs in March 2011 during a raid of one of the largest illegal cigarette factories ever discovered in Poland. > Read more...

OLAF Director-General, Mr Giovanni Kessler, participated last week in the launching of a new international network to fight economic crime hosted by the New Zealand Serious Fraud Office in Auckland. The Economic Crime Agency Network (ECAN) was set up to establish a forum to meet the specific operational interests of law enforcement agencies fighting economic crime. It brings together agencies from all over the world through operational cooperation and intelligence-sharing, contributing to a better understanding of economic crime and promoting public awareness of such issues. Participating agencies include the FBI, the Singapore Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau and the UK Serious Fraud Office.  Please refer to New Zealand Serious Fraud Office press release.> Read more ...

The number of counterfeit euro coins removed from circulation increased by 17% from 157 000 in 2011 to 184 000 in 2012. With 16.5 billion genuine euro coins currently in circulation, the counterfeit ratio is 1 for every 100 000 genuine coins. The 2-euro denomination remains by far the most affected by this criminal activity, representing almost 2 out of every 3 counterfeit euro coins detected.
> EC Press release...  > Read more...

On 5 February, the European Commission proposed  to crack down on criminals who counterfeit euro notes and coins. Criminal law measures proposed include strengthening cross-border investigations and introducing minimum penalties, including imprisonment, for the most serious counterfeiting offences.
 > EC press release ... > Memo... > Legislative text...

An illegal mint was discovered during a late night raid of a garage in a secluded villa near Rome. Three criminals were arrested while producing fake €1 and €2 coins at the fully-equipped premise in Gallicano nel Lazio, and approximately €120,000 worth of equipment and materials were seized.  The joint on-the-spot investigation was carried out on January 16 by the Italian Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza in cooperation with OLAF. The police operation has prevented further production of a large number of counterfeit coins.

On Friday 7 December 2012, Mr Giovanni Kessler, Director General of the European Antifraud Office (OLAF), and Mr Domenico De Simone, President of the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out a framework looking forward to fruitful co-operation between the two organisations in combating the trade of counterfeit products. > Read more...

Enhanced operational cooperation is at the centre of a new “Memorandum of understanding on administrative cooperation between OLAF and EPB” signed on 7 December in Brussels between the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh.

At the 12th Annual Professional Conference and General Assembly of the European Partners Against Corruption (EPAC) and the European Anti-Corruption Network on 23 November 2012 in Barcelona, Mr Giovanni Kessler, Director-General of OLAF, was elected the President of these two networks for two years. More information on the organisation: http://www.epac-eacn.org/

At a conference of fraud prosecutors in Berlin on 8-9 November, the German Federal Minister of Justice Ms Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger expressed support in her opening speech for the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office for the protection of financial interest of the EU.

In order to clarify comments contained in recent media reports, OLAF issues the following statement regarding its investigation into alleged bribe requests to obtain the lifting of the EU ban on snus.

Commissioner John Dalli has announced on 16 October 2012 his resignation as a member of the Commission, with immediate effect.
Mr Dalli informed the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso of his decision following an investigation by OLAF, the EU's antifraud office, into a complaint made in May 2012 by the tobacco producer, Swedish Match. The company alleged that a Maltese entrepreneur had used his contacts with Mr Dalli to try to gain financial advantages from the company in return for seeking to influence a possible future legislative proposal on tobacco products, in particular on the EU export ban on snus . As soon as the Commission received the complaint it immediately requested OLAF to investigate.

On Thursday 27 September, OLAF Director-General, Mr Kessler, visited the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Mr. Boyko Borissov, in Sofia,  to discuss the cooperation between OLAF and the Bulgarian authorities, and also the possible establishment of a European Public Prosecutor's Office. They held a joint press conference for Bulgarian journalists in the Granite Hall at the Council of Ministers.

An OLAF team led by Mr Kessler (Director General) and Ms Hofmann (Director) attended the 13th Annual Conference of International Investigators hosted by the EIB in Luxembourg on 12-14 September 2012. A workshop on Forensic IT Investigations discussing the investigative challenges of fast-evolving technologies was chaired by OLAF. The Investigative Data Consultation Platform Project with the World Bank was presented by Ms Hofmann. Other issues discussed at the conference included: fraud in aid and reconstruction programmes, and sanctions mechanisms. Mr Kessler closed the event by emphasising the need for a reinforced exchange of investigative information with counterparts in international organisations and financial institutions.  
Furthermore, an Administrative Cooperation Arrangement was signed with the Inspectorate General of the government of Uganda represented by Mr Raphael Obudra Baku, Deputy Inspector General.

On 27 July 2012, Spanish Customs, together with the Andorran police, and with support from OLAF,  dismantled a large criminal organisation which was active in the illegal cigarette traffic in Spain.
Codenamed  operation ALGA, this joint operation has lead to the detention of 35 people in 5 autonomous regions  in Spain, the confiscation of a quarter of a million  illegal packets of cigarettes, and the prevention of losses of millions of euros in tax revenues.  The success of operation ALGA shows, once again, the importance of the fight against the illicit traffic of tobacco products and the necessity of international cooperation to this end. Press release 1- 2 - 3

The Annual Report of the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), published on 3 July 2012, summarises OLAF's achievements in 2011. OLAF handled 463 cases in 2011. The results of OLAF's investigations led to the recovery of €691 million and a cumulative 511 years of prison sentences being issued by Member State courts.

A former European Commission official was sentenced on 27 June 2012 by a criminal court
in Brussels to 40 months’ imprisonment and
€50 000 in fines for leaking confidential information to private companies in exchange for payments. Two of these companies were each fined €500 000. The successful prosecution in this case was the result of investigations carried out by both OLAF and judicial authorities in Belgium.

On 5 June 2012, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and Italy's Guardia di Finanza signed an Administrative Cooperation Arrangement. 

The arrangement offers new and targeted means of international cooperation, intended to combat the most recent and dangerous types of fraud.

On Friday 11 May, the 21st meeting of the OLAF Anti-Fraud Communicators' Network (OAFCN) took place at the Centre de Conférence Albert Borschette (CCAB). About 40 (spokesperson or communication) representatives from OLAF's counterparts (from police, customs, and judicial authorities) in the Member States participated.

When the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) recently changed its organisation and working methods, it was decided that OLAF's activities should be extended to cover investigations on fraud related to Intellectual Property Rights.
OLAF has long been investigating the illegal trade in counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco products but its scope will from now also include other counterfeit goods that enter the EU through its external borders.

A network of companies fraudulently importing Chinese tube and pipe fittings via several countries in South East Asia to evade high EU customs duties was discovered in investigations carried out by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and authorities in several EU Member States, in cooperation with Indian and Taiwanese customs. The investigations led to the recovery of nine million euros in customs duties and were followed up by criminal proceedings in Germany and the UK, which resulted in prison sentences for three of the persons involved.

Customs operations are organised not only to safeguard the EU’s financial interests but also to protect our citizens and on this occasion, our cultural heritage. Joint Customs Operation (JCO) Colosseum was the first joint customs operation to target the illicit trade of cultural goods. From 7 to 18 November 2011, within the activities coordinated by the Customs Cooperation Working Party of the Council of the EU, this joint customs operation was carried out with the aim to fight against the illicit movement of cultural goods.
Among the seizure where these 18 ancient books found by the Italian Customs at Malpensa Airport in Milan.  The books date back to the 16th or 17th century. Their approximate value is 30 000 euros. > Read more ...

Brussels, 27 February 2012 – Around 1.2 million cigarettes were seized in the first joint customs operation targeting rail traffic along the EU Eastern border. Twenty-four EU Member States, Croatia, Turkey, Norway and Switzerland participated in the operation which was organised by the Polish Customs Service in close cooperation with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF). The operation took place from 18 to 27 October 2011. The final results of the operation were made public today at the Polish Customs Service in Sopot in Poland. The results could only be made public now not to interfere with further enquiries which had to be performed by the various customs authorities. > Press Release

On 30 January, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) published the results of his general survey of compliance with the Data Protection Regulation. The survey showed that the efforts OLAF has made in this area are bearing fruit. OLAF was found to have the highest level of compliance on all six criteria addressed in the report.

The EDPS analysed the performance of all 58 EU institutions and bodies, in each of the following areas: completion of the inventory of processing operations, completion of notifications, completion of prior checks with the EDPS, follow-up given to EDPS recommendations, adoption of data protection implementing rules, and the appointment and role of the Data Protection Officer.  More...

On the 1st of February 2012 the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) has introduced important changes to its organisation and working methods. These changes are the result of an internal review launched in March 2011 by OLAF Director-General Giovanni Kessler who took office on 14 February 2011. The new organisational structure and investigative procedures aim at focusing resources on prioritised activities and increasing the efficiency and quality of OLAF's investigations. More...