Financial Crime World

MAURITANIA: EU Anti-Fraud Office Recovers Over 3 Million Euros from Dutch Company

Major Victory in EU’s Anti-Fraud Efforts

In a significant achievement, the European Union’s anti-fraud office, the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), has recovered over 3 million euros from a Dutch company suspected of committing fraud in Mauritania. This comes as a result of an investigation led by OLAF in coordination with the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD).

Key Findings

  • The investigation revealed that the Dutch company had defrauded the EU budget through a large contract to remove shipwrecks from the Bay of Nouadhibou in Mauritania.
  • The company had won the contract in 2014, but it is alleged that they failed to meet their obligations and instead used the funds for their own gain.
  • OLAF’s investigation found that the Dutch company had breached procurement procedures, violated rules on subcontracting, and engaged in active corruption of two Mauritanian officials.

Recommendations

As a result of the investigation, OLAF has recommended:

  • Excluding the company from future access to EU funding
  • Prosecuting those involved in the fraud through the Dutch authorities

Director-General’s Statement

“This is a significant victory for our anti-fraud efforts,” said Ville Itälä, Director-General of OLAF. “We will continue to work tirelessly to detect and prevent fraud, ensuring that EU funds reach their intended beneficiaries without being diverted by corruption.”

Itälä emphasized the importance of cooperation between OLAF and its partner organizations in non-EU countries to prevent fraud and ensure that EU development and humanitarian aid reaches those who need it most.

Investigation Highlights

  • The case highlights the importance of international cooperation in preventing and detecting fraud.
  • OLAF’s investigation demonstrates its commitment to ensuring that EU funds are used for their intended purposes.

Next Steps

The case is now being referred to the European Commission for further action. This marks a significant step towards recovering the stolen funds and bringing those involved to justice.