It was celebrated today in the “Domenico Bovienzo” barracks, headquarters of the Fiamme Gialle of Caserta, the 250th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Guardia di Finanza. The military ceremony was attended by, in addition to the prefect Giuseppe Castaldo, the highest military and civil authorities of the province and representatives of the departments of the provincial command of Caserta and of the soldiers on leave.
After reading the message of the President of the Republic, and the special agenda of the General Commander of the Guardia di Finanza, the Provincial Commander Colonel Nicola Sportelli, after greeting the Authorities who attended and the retired Fiamme Gialle, highlighted the operational results achieved in 2023 and in the first five months of this year, focusing, as stated in a note, “on the importance of the activity carried out by the Guardia di Finanza, in the current economic scenario, characterized by inflation, geopolitical tensions and technological changes, aimed at countering any fraudulent practice and neutralizing, in time, potential attempts to infiltrate criminal organizations into the business fabric, with particular regard to the sector of state funding and PNRR funds. During the ceremony, the moral rewards granted to the military personnel who have particularly distinguished themselves, recently, during the most relevant service operations were also delivered.
The results achieved in 2023 and the first five months of 2024
In 2023 and in the first six months of 2024, the Provincial Command of the Financial Police of Caserta carried out over 697 inspections to combat economic-financial crimes and the infiltration of crime into the economy: an “all-round” commitment to protect of families and businesses, destined to intensify further to guarantee the correct allocation of the resources of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Fight against tax credit fraud and tax evasion
The investigative and analytical activities on subsidized tax credits in construction and energy matters, carried out in collaboration with the Revenue Agency, made it possible to ascertain fraud for approximately 500 million euros. The amount of non-existent credits seized is over 80 million. 364 subjects were reported.
A total of 87 tax evaders have been identified, i.e. those carrying out business or self-employed activities completely unknown to the tax authorities (many of whom operate through electronic commerce platforms), and 1119 illegal or irregular workers.
There were 575 individuals reported for tax crimes, of which 5 were arrested. The value of the assets seized as profits from tax evasion and fraud is approximately 14 million euros.
The 84 interventions regarding excise duties and protection of the fuel market have made it possible to seize approximately 400 tons of energy products.
However, there are 247 customs controls on goods introduced into the national territory in tax evasion, counterfeit or in violation of safety regulations.
The anti-smuggling activities led to the seizure of over 6 tons of foreign manufactured tobacco and the reporting of 36 individuals, of which 14 were arrested.
The checks and investigations against illegal gaming have made it possible to discover 17 clandestine agencies and to report 200 subjects, of which 10 were reported to the judicial authorities.
Protection of public spending
The activity of the Guardia di Finanza in the sector of the protection of public spending is aimed at supervising the correct use of national and European Union resources for the implementation of interventions to support businesses and families.
The operational directives issued for the current year aim, in particular, at monitoring projects and investments financed with PNRR resources. This is also due to the role entrusted to the Corps within the governance system of the Plan.
The commitment to protect the correct destination of the measures introduced by the emergency legislation did not only concern tax bonuses but also non-repayable contributions and bank loans backed by guarantees, the subject of 110 checks, which led to the reporting of 100 people.
Overall, there were approximately 2,000 interventions regarding public spending
233 subjects reported to the Court of Auditors for tax damages.
In the field of citizenship income, the checks selectively involved subjects characterized by concrete elements of risk. Overall, over 10 million in illicit activities were discovered and around 300 people were reported.
The action of the Corps in combating corruption phenomena and other crimes against the Public Administration was carried out by leveraging the particular investigative powers that characterize the economic-financial police and by developing structured investigations of a technical, financial and patrimonial nature, aimed at reconstructing the criminal directions and the role of the subjects involved.
An important commitment was dedicated to the control of the Pnrr funds with 283 interventions carried out, due to the role that these procedures play in collaboration with all the Administrations responsible for the management and implementation of the projects and investments. To date, no. 22 interventions regarding “procurement”.
Interventions against organized and economic-financial crime
In the area of money laundering and self-laundering, 96 interventions were carried out, which led to the reporting of 345 people, of which 26 were arrested, and the seizure of assets worth over 12 million euros.
Over 1,100 suspicious transaction reports were analysed.
In the field of bankruptcy and corporate crimes, the assets seized amount to approximately 2 million.
In application of the anti-mafia legislation, approximately 800 individuals were subjected to asset checks, with the application of seizure and confiscation measures for approximately 300 million.
At the request of the Prefecture, 2300 investigations were carried out, the majority of which were related to the release of anti-mafia documentation.
On the counterfeiting front, more than 200 interventions were carried out, subjecting to the seizure of over 150 thousand counterfeit industrial products, with false indications of being made in Italy and unsafe, as well as large quantities of food products bearing falsified industrial brands or untrue indications. 174 subjects reported.
The Corps’ competitive commitment to the protection of public order and safety in the city and province of Caserta was ensured thanks to the use of the specialized Anti-Terrorism and Emergency Service soldiers, cc.dd. “AT.PI”.
In particular, within the scope of the directives issued by the Government Authority and the local Prefecture, the Guardia di Finanza collaborated with the other FF.PP. in the preparation of services aimed at controlling the territory, managing public events and applying regulations aimed at containing infections.
Also noteworthy was the contribution provided by the “AT.PI” soldiers of Caserta to the activities carried out in other Italian regions for the management of migratory flows or on the occasion of particularly important events.
