19 house searches

Gambling gang concealed ten million euros

Strike against illegal gambling: 165 officers from the financial police and tax investigation department struck at 16 locations in Upper and Lower Austria. Hundreds of machines, computers and large sums of cash were confiscated. A warehouse in the Linz-Land district is said to have served as a workshop for the gang.

The economic and corruption prosecutor's office accuses the internationally active group of perpetrators of tax fraud, organized illegal employment and social benefit fraud. Several illegal gambling venues were probably always well frequented, as investigators found that more than ten million euros were evaded in gambling duty and VAT alone.

Operation "Icarus"
The perpetrators disguised the casinos through a network of front companies and bogus residences, and the illegal machines were controlled and monitored from Greece - hence the name "Icarus".

Social security also defrauded
However, the gang not only evaded taxes, social security contributions amounting to several hundred thousand euros were also not paid. Several suspects are also said to have received unemployment benefits while pursuing their lucrative activities in the illegal gambling venues.

Premises well monitored
The suspects are said to have repaired and maintained the machines in a warehouse in the Linz-Land district; the premises were all equipped with electronic access restrictions and video surveillance to thwart official checks. "Illegal gambling knows no player protection and can destroy livelihoods," says Finance Minister Magnus Brunner.