On the occasion of the 249th anniversary of the foundation of the Guardia di Finanza, the yellow flames have released the operating budget for the period between 1 January 2022 and 31 May 2023.

Over 1.5 million inspections and more than 99,000 investigations relating to the fight against economic-financial crimes and the infiltration of crime into the economy were carried out in this period.

TAX CREDITS AND TAX EVASION

Transactions in the building and energy fields made it possible to seize non-existent credits for an amount of around 5.4 billion. The total number of tax evaders identified was 8,924, over 3,000 more (54.8%) than in the same previous period, illegal or irregular workers 45,041.

In addition, 1,246 cases of international tax evasion were discovered, mainly attributable to hidden permanent establishments, transfer pricing manipulations, fictitious tax residences and illicit cross-border holding of capital.

19,712 were reported for tax crimes, 438 of whom were arrested. The value of the assets seized as a profit from tax evasion and fraud is 4.8 billion.

On the other hand, almost 83 thousand customs controls were carried out on goods introduced into the national territory in tax evasion, counterfeit or in violation of safety regulations.

Activities to combat smuggling led to the seizure of 596 tons of foreign processed tobacco and the denunciation of 895 individuals, 170 of whom were arrested.

The checks and investigations against illegal gambling have made it possible to discover 389 clandestine betting collection points and to record 9,302 subjects, of which 465 reported to the judicial authorities.

PROTECTION OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE

Overall, the operational departments carried out 50,171 interventions in the sector, in addition to 19,935 investigations delegated by the national - criminal and accounting - and European judiciary (EPPO), resulting in 35,651 people being reported and 5,766 responsible in relation to the assessment of tax damages for over 3.33 billion euros.

The frauds discovered against the resources of the European Union amount to over 491 million while those relating to national funding, social security and welfare expenditure are equal to 852 million.

In the matter of basic income, 24,290 checks were carried out which made it possible to ascertain contributions unduly requested and/or received for over 203 million euros, 18,240 responsible being reported.

In terms of tenders, contractual procedures were monitored for over 8.1 billion, of which 574 million referable to investments financed with resources from the PNRR.

CONTRAST TO ORGANIZED AND ECONOMIC-FINANCIAL CRIME

In the field of money laundering and self-laundering, 1,572 interventions were carried out, which led to the denunciation of 5,066 people, of whom 379 were arrested, and to the seizure of assets for a value of over 1.7 billion. On the other hand, seizures for usury amount to around 43 million.

More than 240,000 reports of suspicious transactions were analysed, of which almost 750 related to terrorist financing.

Over 23,400 checks on the circulation of currency were carried out at land and sea borders, with the discovery of illegal movements of over 247 million and the verification of 10,494 violations.

The seizures of counterfeit currency, securities, certificates and revenue stamps totaled over 4.9 million against 284 individuals, 27 of whom were arrested.

In the field of bankruptcy crimes and the company crisis code, the seized assets amount to 538 million out of a total of misappropriated assets of over 4.5 billion.

Since 23 February 2022, as a result of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and the consequent military escalation, the Guardia di Finanza has launched targeted economic and patrimonial investigations on individuals and entities listed in the restrictive measures issued by the European Union. To date, freezing measures have been carried out against 28 subjects, concerning buildings, motor vehicles, boats, aircraft, land, works of art and company shares for a total value of approximately 2 billion euros.

In the period under review, the Departments of the Corps seized, in Italy and abroad, approximately 84.9 tons of narcotic substances, mainly consisting of cocaine (39.4 tons), hashish (18 tons) and marijuana (18.4 tons tons), reporting 6,877 people (of which 2,019 under arrest) and reporting 14,505 to the Prefects.

RESCUE OPERATIONS

From January 2022 to today, the activities carried out by the Corps' aeronaval device have made it possible to arrest a total of 305 smugglers and contribute to the rescue of 46,410 migrants.

(Unioneonline/ss)

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