The soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza of the Gallipoli Company and the Inspectors of the Department of the Central Inspectorate for Quality Control and Repression of Fraud of Agri-food Products of Masaf, have discovered, in the context of extraordinary checks established by the national memorandum of understanding, consumer protection and made in Italy, Greek watermelons passed off as “made in Italy”, as well as 1,800 liters of oil and wine seized because they had no labeling and therefore not traceable.
The investigation was carried out against a company from Lower Salento which operates in the wholesale sector of fresh fruit and vegetables and made it possible to detect how the company had masked the traceability of a large quantity of watermelons coming from abroad, in particular from Greece, of which the real production area is not certain as it is not traced on paper, to be resold on the national territory as of Italian origin and cultivation.
The packaging procedure for placing on sale ended with the use of misleading “packaging”, bearing false indications on the area of origin and production and Italian symbols designed to mislead intermediaries and the final consumer.
The legal representative of the company was referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Lecce for the hypothesis of ”fraud in trade and sale of products with false signs”, while 9 tonnes were subjected to criminal restraint at the disposal of the Judicial Authority. of watermelons. During the intervention, two workers intent on carrying out their work illegally were also identified. The Fiamme Gialle di Gallipoli are carrying out further investigations and documentary evidence aimed at ascertaining any irregularities of a fiscal and contributory nature.
Furthermore, the joint inspection activities made it possible to reveal other administrative violations regarding food traceability, with the consequent administrative seizure of 2 tons of artichokes, 1,500 liters of olive oil in bulk and in cans, indicated as extra virgin, and 300 liters of wine , all without labeling that would certify its traceability and quality.
