Národní centrála proti organizovanému zločinu (NCOZ) has accused a duo of running an investment fraud that caused damage worth more than two billion Czech koruna, leaving around 5,000 clients out of pocket. Prosecutors say the scheme relied on a network of roughly 70 connected business companies. The pair allegedly built the structure by at least 2018 and used it to collect money from investors with promises of guaranteed annual returns between 6% and 15%. Police said the duo drew in funds through emissions of bonds, shares and other investment instruments. But investigators allege the money was not used for the projects they advertised, instead flowing mainly into the operation of the linked companies, paying for the suspects’ personal needs, and funding payouts to earlier investors. Investigators described the mechanism as a Ponzi scheme, meaning new money was needed to keep payments going. In recent days, NCOZ carried out searches at multiple locations across the Czech Republic, mostly in the South Moravian Region. Officers seized extensive amounts of evidence, including paper and electronic materials, and also seized 50 computers intended for cryptocurrency mining. The case is overseen by the Brno Regional State Prosecutor’s Office. The duo faces up to 10 years in prison and has been placed in custody by the court.