The government’s Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) said in a statement on Friday it was investigating dozens of people who may have hidden many millions of euros in bank accounts at a Swiss bank.
The investigations are focued on Germany, Britain, France and Australia, the special tax and customs administration unit said.
The FIOD said it had already detained two suspects and raided homes in The Hague, Hoofddorp, Zwolle and Venlo, confiscating real estate, luxury cars, dozens of paintings, jewelery and a gold ingot.
According to media reports, Swiss bank Credit Suisse confirmed on Friday that its London, Paris and Amsterdam offices have been contacted by local authorities over client tax matters.
The Dutch government has passed information to all the countries involved about more than 50,000 suspect accounts at the bank.
Bank workers in frame
Meanwhile, UK authorities said the investigation was also targeting senior bank employees.
HMRC confirmed that it had launched “a criminal investigation into suspected tax evasion and money-laundering by a global financial institution and certain of its employees”.
“The first phase of the investigation, which will see further, targeted activity over the coming weeks, is focused on senior employees from within the institution, along with a number of its customers,” HMRC said.
“The international reach of this investigation sends a clear message that there is no hiding place for those seeking to evade tax.”
The investigation will continue for weeks to come, Dutch financial prosecutors said.
