Ministry of Internal Affairs breaks fraud ring: over €2.26M embezzled through vehicle registrations

The Ministry of Internal Affairs carried out an operation that dismantled a criminal group suspected of embezzlement, money laundering and negligent performance of duty; criminal charges were filed against six natural persons and three legal entities. The action was carried out in coordination with the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime and Corruption; three people were detained and searches in Skopje yielded around €27,735, 38,500 denars, 750 Swiss francs, $100, mobile phones and two vehicles. ([mvr.gov.mk](https://mvr.gov.mk/en-GB?utm_source=openai))

How investigators say the scheme worked

According to the police, investigators found that between 2021 and January 2026 the suspects concealed the collection of fees for vehicle registrations through falsified reports, producing a total misappropriation of 138.8 million denars — approximately €2.26 million.

Prosecutors say part of the proceeds were moved between accounts of several legal entities and recorded as different types of transactions in order to hide their origin. The transfers were presented as legitimate business activity while masking the underlying unlawful collection of registration fees.

Most of the verified financial damage falls on the Public Enterprise for State Roads, which investigators put at 48.4 million denars. Harm was also recorded against the Red Cross, the Ministry of Environment and several municipalities, the police statement said.

The prosecutor's office has submitted the criminal complaint; the investigation continues and authorities said further measures and forensic financial checks are ongoing to trace the flow of funds and identify any additional involved parties.

Photo: press material from the event