(Luxembourg, 8 May 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Porto (Portugal) is leading an investigation into suspected large-scale customs fraud related to the import of e-bikes from China. Sixteen searches were conducted yesterday in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal, in order to collect evidence.
The investigation, codenamed Pedelecs, revealed that, since 2020, a Portuguese company has been importing disassembled electric bicycles (e-bikes) from Chinese suppliers in separate parts, with the aim of circumventing the payment of anti-dumping duties applicable on the importation of fully assembled e-bikes. For that purpose, the consignments were deliberately misdeclared to the customs authorities.
However, the e-bikes were fully designed in China at the request of several European resellers and then shipped in disassembled form to the Portuguese company for assembly. Once assembled, the e-bikes were sold back to the European resellers in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands who had originally placed the orders with the Chinese suppliers.
The estimated damage to the EU budget caused by this fraud scheme amounts to €2.25 million. The 16 searches in offices and companies were conducted by the Portuguese Tax and Customs Authority (Autoridade Tributária e Aduaneira – Direção de Serviços Antifraude Aduaneira), the German Customs Investigation Office (Zollfahndungsamt) in Munich, the Belgian Federal Police (OCDEFO/CGEFID) and the Dutch Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD).
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the competent Portuguese courts of law.
The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.