SHENZHEN police, in cooperation with the local taxation authority as well as the police in Shanwei City of Guangdong Province, have recently detained 67 suspects after cracking a case involving epidemic-related fake invoices worth 3.33 million yuan (US$467,736) in a recent campaign, sznews.com reported yesterday.

According to the investigators, the criminal gang falsify general invoices involving epidemic prevention materials such as masks and alcohol by taking advantage of preferential policies on taxation.

To provide support for industries and medium, small and micro-sized companies hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, Shenzhen has reduced the value-added tax collection rate from 3 percent to 1 percent for small-scale taxpayers.

Through a meticulous investigation, it was found that the gang, led by a man surnamed Shen, started making fake invoices in Shenzhen late last year.

After the city strengthened epidemic prevention and control efforts, Shen worried that his identity would be exposed and so returned to Shenzhen after the Spring Festival and shipped his tools for the criminal enterprise back to his hometown, Shanwei.

According to the police, the case involved more than 600 businesses and over 5,800 value-added invoices.

The fake general invoices related to epidemic prevention materials are worth 3.33 million yuan, including 2.51 million yuan of masks, 394,000 yuan of disinfection products, 147,000 yuan of protective clothing and 171,000 yuan of thermometers.

(Zhang Yu)