Spanish Authorities Raid Homes in Link to Liechtenstein Tax Evasion Case - Report

Tom Burroughes

16 July 2008

Spanish investigators have searched several addresses in a crackdown linked to the long-running alleged tax evasion case in Liechtenstein, according to a report by Euronews.

The investigators targeted tax advice offices, investment companies and a private bank in an operation centred on Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Zaragoza.

The total amount of cash hidden from the Spanish tax man could be more than €200 million, according to the authorities.

In the wake of a probe by German investigators into suspected tax evasion, Spain is one of a number of countries to have launched investigations.

The German enquiry put the spotlight on Liechtenstein, widely seen as one of the world’s most secretive tax havens. It saw the arrest of former Deutsche Post head Klaus Zumwinkel.

Berlin revealed that a former employee at Liechtenstein’s LGT Bank had sold customer data to German intelligence services.