In 2023 and in the first five months of 2024, the Financial Police carried out over 5,000 inspections and 1,914 investigations to combat economic-financial crimes and the infiltration of crime into the economy: an “all-round” commitment to protect families and businesses, destined to further intensify to guarantee the correct allocation of the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
FIGHTING FRAUD AND TAX EVASION
The inspection activities made it possible to identify 65 total tax evadersi.e. operators of business or self-employed activities completely unknown to the tax authorities (many of whom operate through electronic commerce platforms) and 315 workers in “black” or irregular. It was also discovered, 1 case of international tax evasion, attributable to the fictitious foreign headquarters of foreign companies actually operating in the province of Foggia which embezzled €240 million from the tax authorities. People reported for tax crimes I am 135of which 3 routes stopped. 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 113 million euros. They have been put forward 31proposals to terminate the VAT number and of deletion from the Vies database– VAT information exchange system – towards economic entities characterized by tax risk profiles.
107 interventions in the field of excise duties they were allowed to report 42 responsible for the crime of smuggling, seize over 65,600 kgof energy products, ascertain the contraband consumption of approx 5 million liters of similar producta tax evasion for 4 million eurosas well as to identify 30 illegal fuel stations who have put diesel oil on sale intended for subsidized uses and, therefore, supplied at a lower price.
51 inspection activities in the field of illegal gambling they allowed us to discover 18 clandestine betting collection points and to report 5 managers who failed to declare plays for more than that 14 million of Euro. 6 they are, instead, i border controls on goods introduced into the national territory in tax evasion, counterfeit or in violation of safety regulations.
PROTECTION OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
The activity of the Financial Police in the sector of protection of public spending is aimed at ensuring the correct use of European Union and national resources for the realization of interventions to support businesses and families.
The directives given aim, as a priority, at supervision of financed projects and investments with resources of National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In this context, the following have been carried out: 148 interventions oriented to verify the entitlement to tax credits, contributions and financingas well as the correct execution of the works and services covered of public procurementfor a controlled value of over79 million euros ascertaining wrongdoings for further 2.5 million euros.
On the front of national public spending were carried out 1,300 controls of which 673on the subject of citizenship income e Of new inclusion and support measures for training and work. The action to combat fraud social security and welfare spending led to the ascertainment of undue perceptions for 24 million euros from 144 managersreported to the competent AG, against whom seizure proposals were made for 4.3 million euros. As part of the collaboration with the Court of Auditors they were carried out 52 investigations on the subject of damages to the treasury the outcome of which they were reported18 managersidentifying hypotheses of treasury damages for further 1.6 million euros. Collaboration in the area with the is growing European Prosecutor’s Officewith which they were developed 5 investigations which led to the execution of 13 personal precautionary measures and the execution of seizures for 58 million euros.
On the subject of procurementassignment procedures and methods of execution of works and services were monitored 127 million euros. The action of the Corps in combating corruptive phenomena and to others crimes against the Public Administrationcarried out by leveraging the particular investigative powers that characterize the economic-financial police and developing structured investigations, of a technical, financial and patrimonial nature, aimed at reconstructing the criminal directions and the role of the subjects involved, led to thearrest Of4 people and at the complaint of others 81.
FIGHTING ORGANIZED CRIME AND ECONOMIC-FINANCIAL
In the fight against organized and economic-financial crime, the Corps’ action aims to block criminal infiltration into the legal economy and, at the same time, to protect the free market and respect for the rules of healthy competition. In the field of recycling and self-laundering were performed 39interventionswhich led to the complaint of 198people, of which 8 arrestedand to reconstruction of illicit operations For over 117million euros. In this context they were explored in depth451suspicious financial transactions based on reports received from operators in the sector
In the field of bankruptcy crimes he was born in business crisis code, assets have been found to have been stolen for more than that 11 million euros while with reference to the conduct of usury and extortion they werereported12people, of which 4 arrested and with seizure of goods for 743 thousand euros.
87 people they were subjected to asset assessments in application of the anti-mafia legislationwhich led to the application of measures Of confiscation of goods worth more than that3.7 million euros. Furthermore, they were executed 2,178investigationsreferring to the functional checks for the release of anti-mafia documentation following requests received from the Prefects of the Republic. Regarding the fight against drug trafficking and dealingthe departments of the province of Foggia have seized 214kg. of drugsmainly consisting of cocaine (over 14 kilograms),heroin(over 43 kilograms), hashish(over 47 kilograms) e marijuana (over 7 kilograms), reporting to the AG 136 peopleof which 49held under arrest.
Some illegal Indian hemp plantations were also seized, with the seizure of over 6,000 plants. 433 consumers of narcotic substances were reported to the Prefects for the adoption of the relevant administrative measures.
In terms of protecting the market for goods and services, they have been carried out 117interventionswith the complaint of 67people. Following these activities, more than 100,000 vehicles were seized 320 thousandcounterfeit productswith false indication of made in Italydangerous or in violation of the legislation on Copyright.
They were also seized116 tons of agri-food products (mainly olive oil), bearing falsified industrial brands, false indications and the subject of commercial fraud.
The fight against illicit trafficking is ensured not only with investigative activities, but also with patrols assigned to the economic control of the territory that operate within the scope of the Service “117”, the subject of recent interventions in the operational, training and technical-logistic fields, aimed at increasing the operational readiness and effectiveness of intervention of patrols in the area and of naval vessels, in response to citizens’ reports.
7,652 are the patrols used in these services.
COMPETITION IN PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY SERVICES
As part of its mission to contribute to the internal and external security of the country, the Guardia di Finanza ensures thecompetitive commitment in the protection of public order and safety guaranteed in the management of public demonstrations and events of particular importance, in which the Corps participates as a priority with the use of specialized Anti-Terrorism Ready-to-Employ “AT-PI” soldiers.
In the 2023the Departments of the Provincial Command of Foggia employed a total of24,934 man-days in public order services on the occasion of demonstrations, sporting events, international meetings and other events. This commitment, which is also continuing in 2024led, until the month of May, to an overall employment of13,660man-days in public order services.
4,487 are the patrols used in these services.
PHOTOGALLERY
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