A new scandal has erupted in Spain involving Biomar Oil, a company specializing in the trade of petroleum products. The National Police carried out a series of raids on the firm’s offices, detaining eight people on suspicion of large-scale value-added tax fraud. According to investigators, the estimated damage to the state amounts to 280 million euros.
The operation was conducted by order of Central Investigative Court No. 6 of the National Court. The case involves charges of forming a criminal organization, money laundering, and tax evasion. Judge Antonio Piña authorized nine searches, and three of those detained are expected to appear in court soon to testify.
Debts and bans
In 2024, Biomar Oil lost its license to operate in the petroleum products sector. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge found the company in violation of its obligations to meet annual targets for biofuels and other renewable transport fuels. This decision was part of a broader crackdown on violations in the energy sector.
Biomar Oil also appears on the list of Spain’s largest debtors to the tax authority. As of June, the company’s debt to the state exceeds 119 million euros. This became an additional reason for launching a major investigation.
Links to other cases
The investigation into Biomar Oil is not limited to this company alone. The National Court is simultaneously examining similar schemes involving other players in the oil products market. In particular, the activities of Villafuel are under investigation, as well as the role of Víctor de Aldama, who had previously come to the attention of law enforcement in another high-profile case.
In recent months, authorities have tightened controls on companies operating in the fuel and biofuel sectors. Several firms, including Biomar Oil, have been stripped of their licenses to conduct petroleum operations due to violations of environmental and tax regulations.
Scale of the operation
During the searches, police seized documents and electronic data that may shed light on the tax evasion scheme. Investigators believe these were coordinated actions by a group aimed at concealing the real scale of operations and evading VAT on a particularly large scale.
The court is expected to decide on pre-trial measures for the detainees in the coming days. The investigation continues to analyze the seized materials to uncover all the details of the alleged scheme and identify possible accomplices.
