TREVISO – On the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Guardia di Finanza, a ceremony will be held this evening in the Auditorium of the Civic Museums of Santa Caterina in Treviso in the presence of the highest civil and military authorities. On this occasion, commendations will be awarded to financiers who have particularly distinguished themselves in important service operations. Below is the detailed summary of the operational activity conducted, through the dependent departments, by the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Treviso during 2023 and in the first five months of 2024.
“ALL-ROUND” COMMITMENT AGAINST CRIMINALITY TO PROTECT CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES
In 2023 and in the first five months of 2024, the Financial Police carried out approximately 6,200 inspections and 775 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 ensure 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 a total of 406 tax evaders, i.e. those carrying out business or self-employed activities completely unknown to the tax authorities, and 366 illegal or irregular workers. Furthermore, 9 cases of international tax evasion were discovered.
There were 232 subjects reported for tax crimes. As a result of investigations delegated by the judicial authority, non-existent or high fiscal risk tax credits for construction and energy were also cautioned and reported to the Revenue Agency, as well as assets seized. constituting profit from tax evasion and tax fraud, for a value of over 73.3 million euros. 41 proposals for the termination of the VAT number and cancellation from the Vies database were put forward, against economic entities characterized by profiles of fiscal risk. The 52 excise interventions made it possible to seize 47 tons of energy products and over 84 thousand liters of alcohol. However, there are 20 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 2,800 kilograms of foreign manufactured tobacco and the arrest of 2 individuals.
PROTECTION OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
The activity of the Guardia di Finanza 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 given aim, as a priority, to monitor projects and investments financed with resources from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. In this context, 194 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 the works and services subject to public procurement, for approximately 14 million euros. . On the national public spending front, in the same period, 128 interventions were carried out, of which 70 related to citizenship income and new inclusion and support measures for training and work. The action to combat fraud against EU resources has led overall to the ascertainment of unduly received contributions amounting to over 9.5 million euros, while those relating to national funding and social security and welfare spending amount to approximately 6 million euros.
As part of the collaboration with the Judicial Authority – criminal and accounting – 91 investigations were carried out on the subject of public spending, as a result of which 127 responsible persons were reported to the Court of Auditors, with the ascertainment of treasury damages for over 15, 6 million euros. There is a growing collaboration in the area with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, with which 5 investigations were carried out, which led to the reporting of 4 subjects. In terms of procurement, assignment procedures and methods of execution of works and services for over 1.4 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 directions and the role of the subjects involved, led to the denunciation of a subject.
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, 26 interventions were carried out, which led to the reporting of 89 people and the reconstruction of illicit operations for approximately 98 million. 357 suspicious financial flows, generated by operators of the anti-money laundering prevention system, were investigated. The Corps’ action also continued to protect savers in the fight against all forms of banking and financial abuse, carried out mainly through electronic channels and increasingly innovative digital tools, with the reporting of 11 subjects and the execution of seizures for over 1.4 million euros.
At the “A. Canova” of Treviso, 183 checks were carried out on the circulation of currency, with the discovery of illicit movements for almost 2 million euros and the verification of 87 violations, as well as the seizure of counterfeit currency, securities and certificates for almost 47 thousand euros . In terms of bankruptcy crimes and the corporate crisis code, the diversion of assets amounting to over 58 million euros has been ascertained. In application of the anti-mafia legislation, 19 subjects were subjected to asset checks, with the application of seizure, confiscation and judicial administration measures for a value of over 445 thousand euros. Then, 429 checks were carried out following requests received from the Prefects of the Republic, referring to checks functional to the release of anti-mafia documentation.
In the period under review, the Departments of the Provincial Command of Treviso seized 5,594 grams of narcotic substances, mainly consisting of cocaine (181 grams), hashish (4,234 grams) and marijuana (1,167 grams), reporting 6 individuals to the AG (of which 2 under arrest) and reporting 164 to the Prefects. The fight against illicit trafficking, in general, is also ensured within the scope of the “117” Service, which has been the subject of recent interventions in the operational, training and technical-logistical fields, aimed at increasing the operational readiness and effectiveness of intervention of patrols on the territory, in response to citizen reports. In terms of protection of the market of goods and services, 172 interventions were carried out, 23 delegations of the Judicial Authority were developed and 33 individuals were reported. As a result of these activities, over 1,600 kilograms and over 25 thousand liters of goods were seized, as well as approximately 50 thousand counterfeit products, with false indication of Made in Italy, unsafe and in violation of copyright legislation.
COMPETITION IN PUBLIC ORDER AND SAFETY SERVICES
The Corps’ competitive commitment to the protection of public order and safety continues to be guaranteed in the management of public demonstrations and events of particular importance. In 2023, the Guardia di Finanza employed a total of 382 person-days in public order services during demonstrations, sporting events and other events. This commitment, which is continuing in 2024, has led to an overall use of 1,158 person-days in public order services.
In the photo: a previous meeting of the Guardia di Finanza that took place in Treviso in recent years
