Fake fiscal invoices, skillfully camouflaged with QR codes and software to deceive the system, are the reason for last night's action in which police and tax inspectors closed several popular bars in Podgorica.
During Operation "Barcode", a sophisticated tax evasion mechanism was discovered in the Morrison, Loft and Kobajagi cafes, where guests were issued counterfeit receipts that resembled regular ones in appearance, but led to a non-existent Tax Administration website.
This is stated in a statement from the Police Directorate, which explained that as part of intensive activities aimed at combating economic crime, and after months of investigative actions, a coordinated inter-sectoral and inter-agency action codenamed "Barcode" was carried out last night in the territory of the Capital City, aimed at detecting and suppressing tax evasion and other related criminal offenses.
The institution explained that in a joint, coordinated action by officers from the Financial Intelligence Sector, the Crime Prevention Sector and the Tax Administration, a system for issuing forged fiscal invoices was discovered in three catering establishments: "M...", "L..." and "K...".
The news outlets were told that the locations in question were Morrison, Loft and Kobajagi.
"As suspected, these legal entities generated and printed fake invoices with the help of software. The QR code of the invoice integrated the web address of a non-existent Tax Administration website, which shows an error in fiscalization. The functioning of this type of tax evasion was carried out in such a way that guests were issued fake invoices for orders in catering establishments, which, by their appearance, create the illusion that they are genuine fiscal invoices. The upcoming police and prosecutorial activities and forensic examinations of electronic devices will determine the extent of tax evasion, and the responsible persons will be prosecuted," explained the UP.
They point out that the establishments where the irregularities were discovered are among the most popular in the capital and attract a large number of visitors.
"By order of the Tax Administration, these facilities have been issued with decisions prohibiting them from carrying out their activities," the UP said.
They add that this coordinated action is the result of strong, efficient and strategically focused intersectoral and inter-institutional action by state authorities:
"This confirms the readiness and capacity of institutions to confront modern high-ranking security threats, detect and suppress sophisticated forms of criminal activities that undermine fiscal integrity and cause damage to the state budget and the legal development of the economic order of Montenegro."
It was announced that the Police Administration and the Tax Administration are continuing to vigorously implement planned activities "and at the same time call on citizens to actively participate in maintaining fiscal discipline, report observed irregularities and check the authenticity of issued invoices."
"We remind citizens that they can check the correctness of the barcode themselves by scanning the fiscal receipt or comparing the QR code with the actual fiscal receipt verification address," the UP announced.
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