Sassari. On Tuesday afternoon, in the “Financier Giovanni Gavino Tolis, MOMC” barracks, headquarters of the Provincial Command, the Guardia di Finanza 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 its traditions, is able to innovate to protect citizens and the economic system of the country.
The military ceremony began with the performance of the National Anthem, sung by the tenor Matteo Dore, a student of the “Luigi Canepa” Conservatory of Sassari.
After reading the greeting message from the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, and the Special Order of the Day from the general commander of the Guardia di Finanza, General CA Andrea De Gennaro, Colonel Stefano Rebechesu, provincial commander, addressed an address of greeting to the prefect Grazia La Fauci, to the highest local civil, religious and military authorities, to a large representation of financiers in service and on leave and to the other guests present.
Subsequently, the certificates of merit were awarded to some soldiers of the Provincial Command who distinguished themselves for the achievement of valuable operational results, in particular in the execution of the complex info-investigative activity aimed at identifying the economic resources attributable to the subjects included in the black list regarding the restrictive measures adopted by the European Union, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine; to combat fraud on the national and community budget, with particular regard to the verification of the execution of works covered by the “Facade Bonus” incentives; in the field of indirect taxes, in relation to state taxes on air taxi passenger flights and to combat drug trafficking.
In fact, over the past year, the Fiamme Gialle of Sassari have been protagonists of numerous service activities which have led to important results for the fight against tax fraud, the fight against fraud against the State, the European Union, the Regions and Local authorities, crimes against the public administration, trademark counterfeiting and drug trafficking.
Colonel Rebechesu expressed his gratitude to the Fiamme Gialle soldiers serving in the province, for the commitment, professionalism and self-sacrifice with which they continue to serve the Corps, in the awareness of the importance of their role.
The ceremony ended with the “Financier’s Prayer”.
OPERATING BUDGET FROM 1 JANUARY 2023 TO 31 MAY 2024
GDF: “ALL-ROUND” COMMITMENT AGAINST CRIMINALITY TO PROTECT CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES
In 2023 and in 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: an “all-round” commitment to protect families and businesses, destined to intensify further to guarantee the correct allocation of the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
FIGHTING FRAUD AND TAX EVASION
The inspection activities 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 “undeclared” or irregular workers.
Furthermore, two cases of international tax evasion were discovered, attributable to transfer price manipulation and the illicit holding of capital across borders.
The subjects reported for tax crimes are 76. As a result of investigations delegated by the Judicial Authority, non-existent or high fiscal risk subsidized tax credits in construction and energy matters were also cautioned and reported to the Revenue Agency, 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 of values for 23.5 million euros.
Three proposals have been put forward for the termination of the VAT number and cancellation from the Vies database, in respect of economic entities characterized by profiles of fiscal risk.
59 excise duty interventions and 477 customs controls were carried out 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 the protection of public spending is aimed at supervising the correct use of European Union and national resources, for the implementation of interventions to support businesses and families.
The directives issued aim, as a priority, to monitor projects and investments financed with resources from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In this context, 133 interventions were carried out aimed at verifying the entitlement of citizens and businesses to tax credits, contributions and financing, as well as the correct execution of works and services subject to public contracts for 14.17 million euros.
On the national public spending front, in the same period, 487 interventions were carried out, of which 206 related to citizenship income and new inclusion and support measures for training and work.
The action to combat fraud against EU resources has led to the identification of unduly received contributions for a total of 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 authorities – criminal and accounting – 87 investigations were carried out on the subject of public spending, resulting in 174 individuals being reported and 34 responsible persons reported to the Court of Auditors, with the ascertainment of fiscal damages for 10.16 million euros.
There is a growing collaboration in the area with the 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, award procedures and methods of execution of works and services for 6.35 million euros were monitored.
The action of the Corps in combating corruption 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 investigations of a technical, financial and patrimonial nature, aimed at reconstructing the criminal regimes and the role of the subjects involved, led to the denunciation of 5 people and the seizure of approximately 100 thousand euros.
FIGHTING ORGANIZED AND ECONOMIC-FINANCIAL CRIME
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 money laundering 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.
Over 290 suspicious financial flows generated by operators of the anti-money laundering prevention system were investigated.
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 4 subjects and the execution of confiscations for 1.67 million euros.
At the 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 terms of bankruptcy crimes and the business crisis code, misappropriated assets amounting to 3.42 million euros were identified and 37 individuals reported.
As a consequence of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the consequent military escalation, the Corps, as a member of the Financial Security Committee, continued the economic and patrimonial investigations on the individuals and entities listed in the restrictive measures issued by the European Union.
Overall, since 2022, freezing measures have been carried out against 10 entities, concerning, in the province of Sassari, buildings, vehicles, boats, land and company shares worth 750 million euros.
In application of the anti-mafia legislation, 108 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 release of anti-mafia documentation.
In the period under review, the Corps Departments seized, in Italy and abroad, 92.51 kg of narcotic substances, mainly consisting of marijuana (73 kg), cocaine (15 kg) and heroin (2.4 kg), reporting 115 subjects to the AG (of which 17 were under arrest) and reporting 284 to the Prefects. The fight against illicit trafficking, in general, is also ensured within the “117” Service, the subject of recent interventions in the operational, training and technical-logistic fields, aimed at increasing the operational readiness and effectiveness of the patrols’ intervention on the territory and on naval vessels, in response to citizen reports.
In terms of protection of the goods and services market, 66 interventions were carried out, 38 powers of the Judicial Authority were developed and 54 subjects were reported. Following these activities, over 40,600 counterfeit products were seized, with false indication of being made in Italy, unsafe and in violation of copyright law.
496,700 liters of agri-food products (wine) were also seized for counterfeiting geographical indications or designations of origin of agri-food products.
RELIEF OPERATIONS AND COMPETITION IN PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY SERVICES
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 of international dimensions.
The activities are developed through complex judicial police investigations, initiated and carried out also through 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.
The Corps’ competitive commitment to the protection of public order and security 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 specialized Anti-Terrorism Ready-to-Employ soldiers. “AT-PI”.
The context also includes events of international scope characterised by the simultaneous presence of numerous foreign authorities and, often, organised in locations overlooking coastal and port areas.
In 2023, the Guardia di Finanza spent 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.
