EPPO: Paris Court Convicts 3 Individuals, 2 Firms in €296K EU Agricultural Fraud

In French below / En français ci-dessous (Luxembourg, 15 September 2026) – Today, the Paris Criminal Court convicted three individuals in a €296 498 agricultural subsidy fraud case in French Guiana, following an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Paris, France. Two companies, one specialised in livestock breeding as well as a cattle and meat cooperative were also convicted. Between 2017 and 2021, a farming couple unlawfully obtained €238 577 under the POSEI scheme, the EU programme of options specifically relating to remoteness and insularity. The couple used a shell company to artificially inflate the number of livestock declared and the corresponding amount of EU funding to which they were entitled, while also applying for support in their own names. Furthermore, the couple submitted false declarations on behalf of their livestock breeding company, with the cooperation of the cattle and meat cooperative, responsible for transmitting the financial aid requests to the paying agency. They also submitted fraudulent applications for financial support in an attempt to obtain an additional €57 920 under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The convictions follow a plea agreement, which was approved by the court. The defendants have ten days to lodge an appeal. If no appeal is filed, the judgment will become final. The defendants admitted to making false declarations in order to fraudulently obtain EU funding and to laundering the proceeds through banking transactions. They have committed to a reimbursement or financial compensation for the damage caused. The convicted individuals received suspended prison sentences of twelve, eight and six months respectively. They were also fined €40 000, €20 000 (of which €10 000 suspended) and €10 000 respectively, and barred from holding elected public office for eight months. The livestock breeding company was ordered to dissolve and enter liquidation. In addition, confiscation orders totalling €55 510 were imposed on the farming couple. The cattle and meat cooperative was fined €20 000 and subject to a confiscation order of €24 279. The investigation counted on the support of the French Gendarmerie’s investigative unit in French Guiana, the National Veterinary Investigation Unit (BNEVP) and the French Guiana Interministerial Investigation Group (GIR). It was launched by the EPPO following the detection of irregularities by the French Overseas Agricultural Development Office (ODEADOM). The EPPO is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU. France : Trois personnes condamnées dans une affaire de fraude aux subventions agricoles de l’Union européenne en Guyane française (Luxembourg, 15 septembre 2026) Aujourd’hui, le tribunal correctionnel de Paris a condamné trois personnes dans une affaire de fraude aux subventions agricoles d’un montant de 296 498 euros en Guyane française, à la suite d’une enquête menée par le Parquet européen (EPPO) à Paris (France). Deux entreprises, l’une spécialisée dans l’élevage et l’autre une coopérative d’élévage de bovins et de viande, ont également été condamnées. Entre 2017 et 2021, un couple d’agriculteurs a obtenu indûment 238 577 euros au titre du programme POSEI, le dispositif de l’Union européenne destiné à soutenir les secteurs agricoles des régions ultrapériphériques. Le couple a utilisé une société écran afin de gonfler artificiellement le nombre de têtes de bétail déclarées et, par conséquent, le montant des aides européennes auxquelles il pouvait prétendre, tout en sollicitant également des aides en nom propre. En outre, avec l’aide de la société coopérative d’élevage de bovins et de viande chargée de transmettre les demandes d’aide à l’organisme payeur, le couple a présenté de fausses déclarations au nom de l’entreprise d’élevage. Il a également soumis des demandes frauduleuses