LA SPEZIA – They used hookahs without authorization inside their restaurants, allowing their customers to use them: this is the discovery of the Guardia di Finanza Group of La Spezia and the officials of the Monopolies Office for Liguria of ADM – La Spezia Section which they seized 12 kg of smuggled hookah molasses and without the required state seal. Administrative sanctions were imposed on each of the managers of the commercial activities, the amount of which varies from 5,000 to 50,000 euros.
The places to be checked were also selected through a targeted analysis of websites and social pages on which this particular type of service was advertised in addition to the traditional drinks typical of bars or restaurants. The consumption of molasses to be smoked via hookah is increasingly requested by customers of all ages and with a rapidly growing trend in our country too. The legislation in force requires that traders must obtain the required authorizations (“special licence”, authorization issued by the Customs and Monopolies Agency) otherwise they risk heavy fines and, in some cases, even being reported for smuggling.
The control activity carried out by the officials of the Customs and Monopolies Agency and by the soldiers of the Mobile Unit of the Guardia di Finanza is part of a broader device for protecting the territory through constant and targeted action aimed at contrasting of multifaceted economic-financial crimes, such as those connected to the trade of goods subject to the State’s monopoly. The control activities of the species, which demonstrate the perfect operational synergy that distinguishes the work of the two bodies, recently also sealed by the signing of a national memorandum of understanding relating to collaborative relationships, also represent an effective safeguard for the protection of health and safety of the community, as operational experience has sometimes shown the use of products that often do not comply with the healthiness parameters required by European legislation and as such are certainly dangerous for consumers.
