On 3 June 2025, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) carried out a series of operational activities involving 25 investigators from the NBI and the Celje Police Directorate.

As part of the operation, five searches were conducted at residential, business and other premises within the jurisdictions of the Ljubljana, Celje and Maribor police directorates. The actions were undertaken on suspicion of fraud and attempted fraud involving EU funds.

In the first case, one individual and one legal entity from the Celje area are suspected of committing fraud to the detriment of the EU. In the second case, two individuals and two companies from the Celje and Maribor areas are suspected of attempting to commit a similar offence.

The first suspects allegedly attempted to unlawfully obtain a financial gain in the amount of 5.6 million euros. In the case of the attempted fraud, the suspects are believed to have sought to secure nearly 20 million euros in EU funds by submitting false information and documentation, with the intent to deceive the competent authority responsible for approving and disbursing those funds.

Fraud against the EU is punishable by a prison sentence ranging from one to eight years. The pre-trial investigation is being conducted under the direction of the European Public Prosecutor's Office.