Milan – Over 20.000 high-value collectible cards were seized at Linate Airport, in a joint operation that strengthens the synergy between the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) and the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza in Milan.
The raid uncovered a smuggling attempt, seizing a shipment of goods with an estimated market value of over €90.000. The attention of the Linate Group's Guardia di Finanza and UADM Lombardia 2 personnel focused on a passenger who had disembarked from a flight from Tokyo, with an intermediate stopover in Paris. Upon arriving at Milan's airport, the man had chosen to travel through the "green" customs corridor, a signal indicating the absence of goods or valuables to declare to the authorities.
However, the joint inspection of the baggage revealed something else: the huge quantity of over 20.000 collectible playing cards, purchased in Japan.
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Collectors' Gold
What has attracted particular interest among law enforcement agencies is not only the quantity, but also the quality of the merchandise: these cards, many of which, it turns out, are not yet available on European markets. This exclusivity makes them a highly sought-after target for collectors, with a consequent extremely high market value, justifying their high valuation.
The passenger was immediately fined for smuggling the goods. The violation will result in a hefty administrative fine, which, according to the law, can range between 100 and 200 percent of the evaded border duties. In this specific case, the undeclared duties were estimated at over €22.000, implying a fine that could exceed €44.000.
The operation is part of the ongoing protection of the economic and financial interests of the Italian State and the European Union at Linate Airport. The synergy between the Guardia di Finanza and the Customs and Monopolies Agency, strengthened by the memorandum of understanding renewed on May 28, remains crucial in the fight against fraud and smuggling.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
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