Approximately 19 thousand inspections and 750 investigations in 17 months: these are the numbers that summarize the commitment put in place in the last 17 months by the Bari Financial Police in combating economic-financial crimes and the infiltration of crime into the economy.
The data is contained in the operational budget, relating to the period from 1 January 2023 to 31 May 2024, released today on the occasion of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Corps.
In terms of combating tax evasion, a total of 144 tax evaders have been identified, completely unknown to the tax authorities (entrepreneurs or self-employed, many of whom operate through electronic commerce platforms) and around 650 ‘off the books’ and/or irregular workers. There were 543 subjects reported for tax crimes, of which 3 were arrested. As a result of investigations delegated by the judicial authority, non-existent or high tax risk tax credits for construction and energy were also cautioned and reported to the Revenue Agency, as well as assets constituting profits from tax evasion and fraud were seized. tax, for a value of over 110 million euros.
As regards activities relating to the protection of public spending (with particular attention to projects and investments financed with resources from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan), 284 interventions were carried out aimed at verifying the entitlement of tax credits to citizens and businesses , contributions and financing, as well as the correct execution of works and services subject to public procurement, for over 15 million euros. In terms of the use of European resources (such as the aid provided for fishing and agriculture), fraud amounting to over 3 million euros has been ascertained, with seizures of around 600 thousand euros and 11 people reported.
On the national public spending front, in the same period, 1,192 interventions were carried out, of which 524 related to citizenship income and new inclusion and support measures for training and work. As part of the collaboration with the judicial authorities – criminal and accounting – 197 investigations were carried out on the subject of public spending, resulting in 796 individuals being reported and 109 responsible persons being reported to the Court of Auditors, with the ascertainment of fiscal damages for over 108 million euros. The action of the Corps in combating corruption phenomena and other crimes against the Public Administration, led to the arrest of 20 people, the reporting of 86 and the seizure of assets worth over 300 thousand euros.
In the field of money laundering and self-laundering, 46 interventions were carried out, which led to the reporting of 251 people, of which 6 were arrested, and to the reconstruction of illicit operations for approximately 88 million euros.
The Corps’ action also continued to protect savers in combating all forms of banking and financial abuse, carried out mainly through electronic channels and increasingly innovative digital tools, with the reporting of 26 subjects and the execution of seizures for over 830 thousand euros. At the land, sea and air borders, 801 checks were carried out on the circulation of currency with the discovery of illicit movements for approximately 9 million euros, the verification of 258 violations as well as the seizure of counterfeit currency, securities and certificates for approximately 200 thousand euros . In terms of bankruptcy crimes and the business crisis code, the seized assets amount to approximately 9 million euros out of a total of stolen assets of approximately 61 million euros, while with reference to usury and extortion, 36 individuals were reported with seizures for approximately 1.5 million euros
As part of the fight against organized crime, also aimed at identifying fictitious registrations of assets, 6 investigations were concluded which allowed 19 individuals to be reported to the Judicial Authority. In application of the anti-mafia legislation, 1,309 subjects were subjected to asset checks, which led to the application of seizure, confiscation and judicial administration measures for a value of approximately 20 million euros
In the same period covered by the report, 1,540 kilograms of narcotic substances were seized, mainly consisting of cocaine (1,337 kilograms), hashish (190 kilograms) and marijuana (11 kilograms), reporting to the AG 269 subjects (of which 107 in a state of arrest).
On the consumer protection front, following targeted activities, around 91 million counterfeit products were seized, with false indications of being made in Italy, unsafe and in violation of copyright legislation. Also seized were approximately 337 tons of agri-food products (mainly cereals and oil), bearing falsified industrial brands, false indications and the subject of commercial fraud.
