Tax Evasion in Croatia's Taxi Business: About Ten Arrested, Including the 'King of Taxis'

(Patria) - Croatian USKOK and police have been conducting a new operation against economic crime since morning.

About ten people have been arrested in the areas of Zagreb, Zagreb County, and Zadar County, and they are owners of taxi companies accused of tax evasion amounting to almost five million euros.

Unofficially, among those arrested is Branimir Malenica, known as the "King of Taxis," who employs the largest number of drivers in Croatia.

Minister of the Interior Davor Božinović stated that among the arrested are individuals who, according to investigators' suspicions, were actually running the business.

"Companies were opened, and at the moment when taxes were due, a new company would be opened, then another new company.

All of this had to be followed and all suspicions brought to this stage. This is good in any case because the grey market is being cleaned up," said Božinović.

USKOK, without revealing details about today's operation, announced that arrests and urgent evidentiary actions such as searches are underway in the areas of Zagreb, Zagreb County, and Zadar County.

Zagreb police announced that they, along with colleagues from Koprivnica-Križevci and Zadar areas, began the criminal investigation this morning on suspicion of committing criminal offenses of tax or customs evasion and aiding in this offense, all as part of a criminal association, as well as money laundering.

As part of the criminal investigation, arrests and urgent evidentiary actions are being carried out against several individuals and one legal entity, the Zagreb police added.

After the completion of the criminal investigation, the suspects will be handed over to the detention supervisor, along with a criminal complaint to USKOK, police said.

USKOK stated that after questioning the suspects, they will decide whether to initiate an investigation against them and request pre-trial detention.