The suspects were arrested in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia and Spain.
    A criminal organisation based in Spain that embezzled a total of €25 million in taxes is allegedly behind the fraud.
    The group allegedly sold mobile phones and tablets online at bargain prices, through shell companies, using false invoices, then claimed VAT reimbursements from national tax authorities.
    One of the 17 people arrested is already a suspect in a similar investigation in Italy, where goods worth €40 million were recently seized.
Cross-border sales between EU countries are generally exempt from VAT.