Italian Police Operation Targets Chinese Gang: Smuggling Network Dismantled

italy - Italian police uncover a 70 million Euro tax evasion scheme in imports from China, freezing assets of 17 suspects involved in the crime.

Italian Police Operation Exposes Tax Evasion Scheme

Italian police have conducted a large-scale operation targeting 17 individuals suspected of tax evasion in imports from China. The operation, led by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) in Rome, revealed fraudulent activities in the import of clothing, shoes, bags, and various accessories.

Operation Against 17 Suspects

The operation, codenamed 'Dragone' (Great Dragon), resulted in the freezing of assets worth 70 million Euros. The suspects, including 4 Italians and 13 of Chinese origin, are under investigation for participating in a criminal organization involved in multiple tax offenses related to the import of goods like clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories.

Plan to Evade Customs Duties and VAT

Investigators uncovered that a criminal organization consisting of Chinese entrepreneurs had set up a network of 29 companies operating in the provinces of Florence, Prato, and Rome to evade customs duties and value-added tax (VAT). Allegedly, Chinese goods were passed through customs in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Greece before being transported to logistic centers in Italy.

The EPPO revealed that these funds were then transferred multiple times among fictional operators with invoices for non-existent transactions. To avoid detection, the companies involved were replaced with new ones after about two years of operation, ensuring the continuity of the fraudulent scheme.