Salerno. VAT evasion, false invoices and self-laundering. All through shell companies active in the fuel import-export sector and with the help of professionals for the benefit of Camorra-type criminal organizations.
The seizure of 20 million euros for tax fraud was ordered by the investigating judge of the Salerno court at the request of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, which was carried out this morning by the military of the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Salerno against 7 suspects subject to precautionary measures. For two of them - Felice D'Agostino and Alberto Coppola - precautionary custody in prison was ordered once the aggravating circumstance of having acted to facilitate the Moccia clan of Afragola (NA) was deemed to exist.
A woman was placed under house arrest and 4 other people were temporarily banned from holding managerial positions within companies. According to investigations carried out by the financial police of the Compagnia di Eboli, the fraud scheme was used to evade VAT by exploiting shell companies whose financial flows were traced back to the actual beneficiaries.
Among these are also people and companies already involved in investigations by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Naples and Rome. Under the magnifying glass of the investigators of the Salerno DDA led by the Prosecutor Giuseppe Borrelli, two companies operating in the area ended up, managed in fact by some individuals believed to be affiliated with the Camorra and who, in April 2021, had ended up investigated for the existence of a criminal association that revolved around the activities of Max Petroli Italia, now Made Petrol Italia (MPI), active in the trade at the entrance of petroleum products and headed by the Di Cesare family in a system that directly involved members of the Moccia clan.
The investigation also involves some professionals from Salerno and the agronocerino-sarnese area who allegedly implemented strategies to carry out the fraud, for example by using false 'letters of intent' in order to have the shell companies acquire the qualification of habitual exporter, the prerequisite for being able to purchase fuels under a VAT exemption regime. The Salerno prosecutor's office has also filed an appeal with the Review Court to have the aggravating circumstance of mafia facilitation accepted for another 3 of the 7 total suspects.
Article published on 14 July 2022 - 14:30
