A massive €3,5 million seizure for tax fraud: a network of "ghost" companies between Naples and Caserta has been exposed.

Naples - Finance police from the Provincial Command have executed a precautionary seizure order worth approximately €3,5 million against four companies operating in the wholesale trade of hardware and small metal parts, with operations in the provinces of Naples and Caserta.

The order, issued by the Preliminary Investigations Judge of the Court of Naples, represents the culmination of a complex investigation coordinated by the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office and conducted by the 1st Metropolitan Operational Unit of the Guardia di Finanza. This investigation uncovered a sophisticated tax evasion scheme based on the use of "shell" companies specifically created to generate a flurry of false invoices.

According to the findings, between 2016 and 2023, the companies involved allegedly used invoices for non-existent transactions, both objectively and subjectively, to artificially reduce business costs and unduly deduct VAT. The supplier companies, registered under nominees and lacking any operational structure, were merely accounting shells, formally transferring goods that were never actually delivered.

The investigation led to the referral of ten people, under investigation for various crimes of issuing and using false invoices.

To ensure the recovery of the evaded sums and protect the interests of the Treasury, the GIP ordered the precautionary seizure of the proceeds of the alleged crimes, both directly from the legal entities involved and in equivalent form from the personal assets of their respective legal representatives.

During the operation, two properties, six vehicles, cash, and bank assets attributable to the companies and their directors were seized, with a total value of €869.334,88.