Early in the morning, officers from the National Police conducted a large-scale search at the offices of Biomar Oil S.L., a company specializing in petroleum products. The operation, organized by the Economic and Tax Crime Unit, resulted in the arrest of six individuals, including the chief financial officer, head accountant, and several other employees linked to the company’s operations. All actions were carried out under the supervision of a judge from the Sixth Investigative Court of the National Judicial Panel.
Biomar Oil has come under scrutiny due to enormous tax debts—the claims have reached €119.1 million. Authorities suspect the company of evading VAT and laundering money through the purchase of luxury goods such as expensive cars and watches. The investigation is also considering the possible existence of an organized crime group, document forgery, and other financial offenses.
Reasons for the investigation
In 2024, the Ministry for Ecological Transition revoked Biomar Oil’s license to operate with petroleum products. The decision was prompted by violations found during fuel blending: by law, biofuel must be added to the product, but the company failed to confirm it complied with this requirement. As a result, Biomar Oil did not provide the necessary evidence of meeting the standards, which led to the imposition of a multimillion-euro debt.
The management of Biomar Oil attempted to challenge the ministry’s actions by filing a complaint against one of its senior officials. The company insisted that all legal requirements had been met and that the fine imposed was unjustified. However, the legal proceedings on this matter were discontinued, although an appeal is now expected to be heard in the Provincial Court of Madrid.
Operation details
The investigation began this year and is still ongoing under complete secrecy. According to available information, police officers are examining schemes through which Biomar Oil may have evaded taxes, as well as possible money laundering channels. Among those detained are key company officials responsible for financial flows and accounting.
During the searches, documents and electronic media were seized that could shed light on the details of the alleged fraud. Investigators are also checking Biomar Oil’s connections with other companies and individuals who may have been involved in the scheme. Special attention is being paid to transactions involving luxury goods, which, according to investigators, were used to legitimize illegally obtained funds.
Court proceedings and bankruptcy
Currently, Biomar Oil is under external administration by order of the Tenth Commercial Court of Barcelona. The company has been officially declared bankrupt, and its operations are being overseen by a court-appointed administrator. This decision was made after the firm failed to pay its creditors and the state.
The Biomar Oil case is not the first major fraud in Spain’s fuel industry. Last year, a similar case drew public attention when an entrepreneur was arrested on suspicion of running a corruption scheme that cost the state more than 182 million euros. The new investigation highlights that tax evasion and money laundering remain pressing issues in the oil sector.
