04/16/2024
“An investigation that lasted a couple of years, started from an extortion episode, which had the aim of taking control of premises in Montecatini”. This is the first step of the “End Game” operation conducted by the Flying Squad of the Police and the Pistoia Finance Economic and Financial Police Unit and which led to 12 arrests, of which 9 in prison and 3 under house arrest. The outcome of the activity was explained during a press conference at the Police Headquarters by the Chief Prosecutor of Pistoia Tommaso Coletta, alongside the acting prosecutor of Prato Laura Canovai, the deputies of Pistoia Luisa Serranti and Leonardo De Gaudio and the top management local police and financial police. The suspects, of Italian and Chinese nationality, are accused of various crimes ranging from extortion to criminal association and economic-financial crimes. According to what has been reconstructed, everything therefore started from Montecatini where a Chinese citizen, later accused of attempted extortion and tax crimes, using Italian criminals, had tried to get his hands on two premises, one in the spa town and one in Pieve a Nievole. A real “system” of illegal and clandestine betting, as defined by the investigators, discovered in the second line of activity, which involved the Prato area, implemented both online through cloned sites and in slot halls. According to what has been reconstructed, some players could even bet 3-400 thousand euros per month. The activity thus led to the confiscation of sums of money – or movable and immovable assets – for a total value of over one million euros, as well as the estimated value of 3 gaming and betting halls, 5 companies and 1 car.
Francesco Rossano
Tags: Operation Game precautionary measures News
