Naples – A complex network of fictitious vehicle registrations has been dismantled by the Naples Metropolitan Police, led by Commander Lucia Rea.
The operation, conducted by the GOTA Group (Environmental Tactical Operations Group), led to the official cancellation of 77 cars from the Public Automobile Registry (PRA) and brought to light tax evasion of more than 150.000 euros.
The investigation starts from a random check
It all started at the end of 2024 with a routine check near Naples Central Station, where officers stopped a Moroccan citizen driving a high-powered Audi A4.
Subsequent checks revealed that the vehicle was registered to a nominee resident in Casoria, who had been missing since 2023, and who had enabled the fraudulent registration of dozens of cars.
The mechanism of fraud
Uninsured vehicles: almost all of the cars involved were driving without insurance, posing serious risks to road safety.
Transfers to foreigners and penniless people: the vehicles were then transferred to citizens with no declared income, making it impossible to recover the debts.
Damage to the treasury: the evasion involved provincial and regional taxes, for a total amount of over 150.000 euros.
The profile of the "front man" and the criminal implications
The main suspect, already reported to the Naples Prosecutor's Office for fraud against the State and forgery, had created a system that went well beyond simple tax fraud. The investigations have in fact ascertained that:
The vehicles were used for crimes: several vehicles were used by criminals in activities related to drug trafficking and property crimes.
Difficulties in investigations: the fictitious headers hindered the identification of the real perpetrators, complicating the work of the police.
Sanctions and registry blocking
The alleged organizer has been blocked from registering with the PRA (Privacy and Motor Vehicle Authority) and the Civil Motorization Office , prohibiting any new registration under his name. Meanwhile, for each violation found, fines ranging from €531 to €2.125 will be imposed, in addition to the permanent cancellation of the vehicles from the register.
“This activity demonstrates the effectiveness of controls in combating not only tax evasion, but also criminal infiltration in our territory,” commented Commander Lucia Rea. The fight against fictitious registrations is thus confirmed as a crucial element for security and legality.
The Prosecutor's Office is evaluating possible links with organized crime, while checks on other suspicious vehicles continue.
The operation of the Metropolitan Police of Naples is very important because it helps to fight tax fraud. But I believe that there are still many unregistered cars and that more must be done to stop these phenomena.