MONTREUIL, France - French authorities have uncovered a vast financial fraud network in a large-scale investigation that involved over 70,000 Chinese-made e-bikes across six storage sites in the country. The losses amount to €6 million.
Starting in Autumn 2024, investigators for the National Directorate of Intelligence and Customs Investigations (DNRED) conducted several sting operations to crack down on networks smuggling Chinese-branded e-bikes into the country. The criminal networks had one main mission in mind: to avoid the anti-dumping duties applied to e-bikes to create a fair European trade market, as well as taxes.
‘Modus operandi’
The DNRED officers identified the supply chain for these fraudulent bikes, which started with the illegal import of the goods through “different European ports” via front companies and false documentation. Just over 70,000 e-bikes were stored across six different French warehouses, regularly shifting from address to address and carrying no information about their origin or ownership.
READING TIP!
Europe-wide fraud investigation involves e-bikes from China
In March 2025, the DNRED raided these warehouses and seized the e-bikes, calculating a loss of nearly €6 million in fraudulent duties and taxes. The investigation identified several fraudulent import networks for Chinese e-bikes operating in the country, and officials concluded that the e-bikes were intended for sale on major online trading platforms.
Wider Europe implicated
In conjunction with the French Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), French customs has informed its European partners of several suspicious storage sites across Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. This year alone, there have been several raids conducted around Europe to expose these complex networks, including Project Calypso, a data-based, comprehensive analysis of EU trade flows aimed at illegal e-bike imports. The total damages of Project Calypso so far are estimated to be approximately €700 million.
Unprecedented case
In France, customs officials called the fraud case ‘unprecedented,’ adding that the successful seizure “illustrates the mobilisation of French and European customs services in the fight against organised criminal groups, whose activities harm the financial interests of national and European budgets.”
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UK body backs extending anti-dumping duties on Chinese bicycles until 2029
French customs authorities linked the increase in fraudulent e-bike imports to the rise in demand for bicycles in Europe. “They operated in France and were likely to exploit the increased demand for bicycles, at a time when public policies are promoting alternative modes of transport,” the customs authorities said. The EU voted earlier this year to continue anti-dumping duties for another five years, with the United Kingdom’s trade authorities recommending the UK follow suit.
Starting in Autumn 2024, investigators for the National Directorate of Intelligence and Customs Investigations (DNRED) conducted several sting operations to crack down on networks smuggling Chinese-branded e-bikes into the country. The criminal networks had one main mission in mind: to avoid the anti-dumping duties applied to e-bikes to create a fair European trade market, as well as taxes.
‘Modus operandi’
The DNRED officers identified the supply chain for these fraudulent bikes, which started with the illegal import of the goods through “different European ports” via front companies and false documentation. Just over 70,000 e-bikes were stored across six different French warehouses, regularly shifting from address to address and carrying no information about their origin or ownership.
READING TIP!
Europe-wide fraud investigation involves e-bikes from China
In March 2025, the DNRED raided these warehouses and seized the e-bikes, calculating a loss of nearly €6 million in fraudulent duties and taxes. The investigation identified several fraudulent import networks for Chinese e-bikes operating in the country, and officials concluded that the e-bikes were intended for sale on major online trading platforms.
Wider Europe implicated
In conjunction with the French Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), French customs has informed its European partners of several suspicious storage sites across Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. This year alone, there have been several raids conducted around Europe to expose these complex networks, including Project Calypso, a data-based, comprehensive analysis of EU trade flows aimed at illegal e-bike imports. The total damages of Project Calypso so far are estimated to be approximately €700 million.
Unprecedented case
In France, customs officials called the fraud case ‘unprecedented,’ adding that the successful seizure “illustrates the mobilisation of French and European customs services in the fight against organised criminal groups, whose activities harm the financial interests of national and European budgets.”
READING TIP!
UK body backs extending anti-dumping duties on Chinese bicycles until 2029
French customs authorities linked the increase in fraudulent e-bike imports to the rise in demand for bicycles in Europe. “They operated in France and were likely to exploit the increased demand for bicycles, at a time when public policies are promoting alternative modes of transport,” the customs authorities said. The EU voted earlier this year to continue anti-dumping duties for another five years, with the United Kingdom’s trade authorities recommending the UK follow suit.
