Arrests made in Dutch anti-dumping probe into Chinese bicycles

The arrests were made at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. They persons involved are suspected of systematically undervaluing the goods and falsely declaring their origin, causing an estimated damage of approximately €7.2 million.

Not related to Dutch fatbike problem

Over 16,000 non-compliant fatbikes were seized by the national authorities last summer in the port of Rotterdam and in distribution centres before they were put on the road. However, the  Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) of the Netherlands confirmed to Bike Europe that these arrests are unrelated to the influx of illegal fatbikes on the Dutch market. The FIOD confirmed that the fraud is related to bicycles and not e-bikes and the investigation has been running longer than the emergence of the illegal fatbikes on the market last year.

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At the EPPO’s request, the FIOD carried out searches at the suspects’ homes and at four business premises in Andelst, Rotterdam, Waddinxveen and Zaandam. Law enforcement seized three houses, six cars, cash and two cryptocurrency accounts and froze five bank accounts, all worth an estimated €9 million. One of the bank accounts was frozen in Germany and one of the cryptocurrency accounts was seized in Ireland. Physical and digital documentation was also seized.

Incorrect import declarations

According to the investigation, the suspects made 380 incorrect import declarations, by declaring a lower value of the bicycles to customs and by falsely declaring the origin of the goods – thereby evading the payment of a significant share of the import and anti-dumping duties.

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.