Electronics and home appliances were among the illegally imported goods Shutterstock

In one of the largest and most serious cases of fraud in Poland in recent years, a criminal group from China and Vietnam, which imported clothes, home appliances and electronics to Poland was found to have transfered some zł.2.6 billion out of the country.

The group did not pay taxes and transferred their profits abroad, Puls Biznesu reported, citing its own sources. It is estimated that losses to the state resulting from the unpaid taxes may be as high as zł.1 billion.

Charges have been filed against eight people, and an additional five are still to be brought into custody. Some zł.3.5 million in cash has reportedly been secured.

The Internal Security Agency (ABW) learned about the group in April 2010, thanks to information provided by the Lithuanian state, which raised the alarm about the frequent transportation of large amounts of money from Poland.

The Polish security services also cooperated with their counterparts in the Czech Republic, Germany and Ukraine.

The ABW determined that the money being transported came from a criminal gang selling goods at a shopping center in Wólka Kosowska, near Warsaw, as well as from sites in the Czech Republic and Germany. It also turned out that large amounts of money were transferred via bank accounts.

The money first went to Ukraine, and from there to companies registered in China and tax havens including Panama and Belize.