The interventions of the Financial Police of Sassari.
Yesterday afternoon, at the headquarters of the Provincial Command, the Financial Police of Sassari celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Foundation, a significant milestone in the history of the Corps which, anchored to its founding values and traditions, is able to innovate to protect citizens and the country’s economic system: interventions at the beginning of 2024.
In 2023 and the first five months of 2024, the Sassari Financial Police carried out 9,493 inspections and 843 investigations to combat economic-financial crimes and the infiltration of crime into the economy: a commitment “across the board” to protect families and businesses, destined to further intensify to ensure the correct allocation of the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
The interventions of the Sassari Financial Police in combating fraud.
The inspection activities have allowed the identification of 133 total tax evaders, i.e. those carrying out business or self-employed activities completely unknown to the tax authorities (many of whom operate through e-commerce platforms) and 232 workers in “black” or irregular. Furthermore, two cases of international tax evasion were discovered, attributable to transfer price manipulation and the illicit holding of capital beyond the border.
There are 76 subjects reported for tax crimes. Following investigations delegated by thejudicial authoritynon-existent tax credits for construction and energy matters or non-existent tax credits were also cautioned and reported to the Revenue Agency high tax risk, as well as seized assets constituting profits from tax evasion and tax fraud for a value of 7.94 million euros and proposed for seizure values for 23.5 million euros. They have been advanced 3 proposals for the termination of the VAT number and cancellation from the Vies database, against economic entities characterized by tax risk profiles. 59 interventions were carried out in the field of excise duties and 477 customs checks on goods introduced into the national territory in tax evasion, counterfeit or in violation of safety regulations.
Protection of public spending.
The activity of Financial Police in the sector of the protection of public spending it is oriented towards supervising the correct use of European Union and national resources, for the implementation of interventions to support businesses and families. The directives given aim, as a priority, to monitor projects and investments financed with resources from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In this context they were carried out 133 interventions aimed at verifying the entitlement to citizens and businesses of tax credits, contributions and financing, as well as the correct execution of works and services subject to public tenders for 14.17 million euros.
On the front of national public spending, in the same period, 487 interventions were carried out, of which 206 on the subject of citizenship income and new inclusion and support measures for training and work. The action of fight against fraud to the detriment of EU resources has led overall to the ascertainment of contributions unduly received for 855 thousand euros while those relating to national funding, social security and welfare expenditure are 1.08 million euros.
As part of the collaboration with the judicial, criminal and accounting authorities, 87 surveys were carried out on public spending as a result, 174 individuals were reported and 34 responsible persons reported to the Court of Auditors, with the assessment of treasury damages amounting to 10.16 million euros. The collaboration in the area with the is growing European Prosecutor’s Office, with which 8 investigations were developed which led to the denunciation of 10 perpetrators and the execution of seizures for 71 thousand euros. In terms of procurement, they were monitored assignment procedures and methods of execution of works and services for 6.35 million euros.
The action of the Corps in combating corruptive phenomena and other crimes against the Public Administration, carried out by leveraging the particular investigative powers that characterize the economic-financial police and developing structured investigationsof a technical, financial and patrimonial nature, aimed at reconstructing the criminal plans and the role of the subjects involved, led to the reporting of 5 people and the seizure of assets for around 100 thousand euros.
Fight against organized crime.
In the fight against organized crime and economic-financialthe 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 recycling matter and self-laundering, 11 interventions were carried out, which led to the reporting of 28 people and the reconstruction of illicit operations for approximately 7 million euros. They were investigated over 290 financial flows suspicions generated by operators of the anti-money laundering prevention system.
It also continued the Corps’ action to protect savers in the fight against every form of banking and financial illegality, carried out mainly through electronic channels and increasingly innovative digital tools, with the complaint from 4 subjects and the execution of confiscations for 1.67 million euros. At land, sea and air borders, 900 checks were carried out on the circulation of currency, intercepting currency and accompanying securities for 5.37 million euros.
In the field of bankruptcy crimes and of the business crisis code, assets diverted for 3.42 million euros and 37 subjects reported. As a result of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the resulting military escalation, the Corps, as a member of the Financial Security Committee, continued its economic and financial assessments on individuals and entities listed in the restrictive measures issued by the European Union.
Overall, from 2022freezing measures were carried out against 10 subjects, concerning, in the province of Sassari, buildings, vehicles, boats, land and company shares for a value of 750 million euros.
In application of anti-mafia legislation108 subjects were subjected to asset checks, which led to the proposal of seizure, confiscation and judicial administration measures for a value of over 1.65 million euros. Then, 1,126 checks were carried out following requests received from the Prefects of the Republic relating to checks functional to the issuing of the anti-mafia documentation.
In the period under review, i Departments of the Corps have seized, in Italy and abroad, 92.51 kilograms of narcotic substances, mainly consisting of marijuana (73 kilograms), cocaine (15 kilograms) e heroin (2.4 kilograms), reporting 115 subjects to the judicial authorities, of which 17 were under arrest, and reporting 284 to the Prefects. The fight against illicit trafficking, in general, is also ensured within 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 on the territory and of naval vessels, to feedback on reports of the citizen.
On the side of protection of the market for goods and services, 66 interventions were carried out, 38 mandates of the Judicial Authority were developed and 54 subjects reported. Following these activities they were subjected to further seizure 40,600 counterfeit products, with false indication of being made in Italy, unsafe and in violation of copyright law. 496,700 liters of products were also seized agri-food (wine) for counterfeiting of geographical indications or designations of origin of agri-food products.
The rescue operations.
As part of the broader mission to contribute to the internal and external security of the country, the Financial Police ensures extensive action to combat illicit trafficking of drugs, waste, weapons and human beings, often on an international scale.
The activities are developed through various stages judicial police investigationsinitiated and carried forward also by resorting to collaboration with foreign countries, as well as through the patrolling of the territorial and extraterritorial sea by the naval and air vehicles of the Corps’ air-naval device.
L’competitive commitment of the Corps in the protection of public order and safety continues to be guaranteed in the management of public demonstrations and events of particular importance, in which the Corps participates as a priority with the use of the military specialized Anti-Terrorism Ready-to-Employ “AT-PI”. In the context also include events of international scope characterized by the simultaneous presence of numerous foreign authorities and, often, organized in places also overlooking coastal and port areas.
In 2023 the Financial Police, including that of Sassari, with its interventions, employed a total of 16,105 man-days in public order services during demonstrations, sporting events, international meetings and other events. This commitment, which is continuing in 2024, has led to an overall use of over 8,000 man-days in public order services.
