The Customs and Monopolies Agency – Campania Territorial Directorate has compiled a comprehensive report on its activities in 2025, including in collaboration with other police forces, highlighting seizures and tax recoveries.
The main figures show that 296 items containing chemicals deemed harmful to health were seized, 115 tons of food products and kitchen utensils were rejected abroad because they did not comply with Italian health regulations, and 18 tons of waste was seized. Among the products potentially dangerous to minors, 51 "food-shaped" candles, considered a choking hazard, were also seized.
Environment and controlled substances: refrigerant gases and chemical laboratory
Among the interventions with an environmental impact, ADM reports the seizure of 20 kg of HFC refrigerant gas introduced into the customs territory without the required quota established by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security.
The work of the Chemical Laboratory has also been crucial: in 2025, 5.246 samples were collected and analyzed across multiple categories (narcotics, alcohol, food, toys, and textiles), supporting both routine checks and anti-fraud activities.
Drugs and tobacco: nearly 9 quintals of narcotics intercepted
The figures in the fight against illicit trafficking are significant: a total of 877 kg of narcotic substances (marijuana and cocaine) and 150 kg of foreign-produced tobacco (TLE) were seized.
The tax chapter: excise duties and VAT under scrutiny
In the tax area, ADM reports over 90 million euros in additional assessed duties. Meanwhile, in the fight against under-invoicing, 173 euros were collected.
Among the most significant recoveries: excise duty refunds on diesel fuel intended for road haulage and unduly offset tax credits totaling approximately €1,5 million, in addition to fines. In the alcohol sector, an anti-fraud operation resulted in the recovery of approximately €1,5 million in excise duties and €1.037.240 in VAT, with a criminal charge filed against a liquor company operating a tax warehouse.
The structures involved and the applause of the Anti-Fraud Directorate
The activities were carried out by the Regional Anti-Fraud Office and the UADM Naples and UADM Campania 1, 2, 3, and 4 offices, in addition to the staff of the Naples Laboratory.
Councilor Sergio Gallo, ADM Anti-Fraud Director, expressed appreciation for the results achieved, thanking the territorial director Maria Alessandra Santillo and the staff, emphasizing their consistent work, collaboration, and dedication.
Port of Naples: High-Risk Products, Drugs, and Waste Exported
Product safety: phthalates exceeded the threshold and "food candles"
Inspections in the port of Naples led to seizures in the product safety sector: 278.620 shoes and 18 toys with phthalate concentrations exceeding the limit. 51.840 candles resembling various foods in shape, smell, and color were also seized.
During the year, 115 tons of food and kitchenware shipments were rejected abroad because they did not comply with health regulations.
Environmental Protection: 20 kg of HFCs seized
In the environmental chapter, the offices indicate the seizure of 20 kg of HFC refrigerant gas, which was introduced without the required annual quota, with controls aimed at combating substances that damage the ozone layer.
Counterfeiting: Counterfeit toys, shoes, and noodles
On the counterfeit front, 13.285 toys bearing the brands of automobile manufacturers reproduced without authorization and 7.994 pairs of shoes bearing the brand of a well-known fashion house were seized. Also seized were 800 packages of noodles bearing the brand of a well-known Italian food company.
Exports and waste: over 18 tons seized
Operations to combat illegal waste trafficking have led to the seizure of over 18 tons of textile material destined for export.
Underinvoicing and VAT fraud: investigations and large amounts
In the tax area, duties totaling over €173 were discovered in the port of Naples thanks to anti-underinvoicing measures. In its checks on intra-community VAT fraud, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ADM) reported violations amounting to over €90 million.
Drugs: Two shipments intercepted on the dock
In 2025, two shipments were intercepted at the port: 761,17 kg of marijuana and 25,21 kg of cocaine. Seizures were ordered and a report of the crime was forwarded to the judicial authorities.
Capodichino Airport: Drugs, TLE, and $5 million in foreign currency
At the Capodichino airport detachment, joint Customs and Financial Police operations led to the seizure of approximately 90 kg of narcotics and approximately 150 kg of TLE.
In the case of counterfeiting, 4.670 items of clothing, accessories, and footwear were seized. An administrative seizure of an elephant horn, a species protected by the Washington Convention, was also reported.
Currency ChapterOver €5 million in attempted illegal smuggling or exports seized, with fines of approximately €220.
Campania 1 (Naples province): attention on raw tobacco in Nola
In the province of Naples, among the highlighted activities is the targeted monitoring of raw tobacco imports at the Nola branch, initiated following irregularities in customs declarations and the risk of misclassification. ADM notes that smoking tobacco is subject to a more severe tax regime (74,9% duty, 22% VAT, and excise duty) and is a type of monopoly.
Capri: Nine drug seizures
In the port of Capri, Customs and the Guardia di Finanza carried out nine seizures of narcotics found on passengers in transit.
Campania 2 (Salerno): waste, false certifications, and “non-extra virgin” oil
In Salerno, checks focused primarily on exports, with particular attention to cross-border waste trafficking and the movement of used trucks and trailers to non-EU countries. In one case, a truck declared for export was seized after a false deregistration certificate was produced; the exporter was reported.
Regarding the "groupage" shipment headed to Africa (with shipments traceable to multiple parties), the seizure of a container destined for Morocco was reported: according to investigations also carried out with ARPA Campania, it contained goods classified as waste and, in fact, a cover load of hazardous waste (used clothing that had not been sorted and sanitized, used spare parts that had not been decontaminated) in violation of the regulations.
Underinvoicing and misleading indications of origin
Also in Salerno, an inspection of a furniture importer from China led to findings regarding an under-declared value and disputes regarding false declarations.
Laboratory analysis also confirmed a shipment of olive oil from Tunisia declared as extra virgin but found to be "virgin." The importer has been reported for the crimes outlined in the press release (including commercial fraud and false ideology). Pool cleaning products from China with provenance labels deemed false or misleading were also blocked.
Campania 3 (Caserta)Anti-mafia bans and excise duty and credit recoveries
In Caserta, following anti-mafia bans, inventory checks were carried out at seven roadside fuel stations: all were found to be irregular, resulting in fines and, in one case, a report of a crime.
In this context, ADM also reports recoveries of approximately €1,5 million, including excise duty refunds on diesel fuel for road transport and improperly offset tax credits, in addition to fines. Anti-fraud activities involving alcohol and intra-Community VAT also continued: approximately €1,5 million in excise duties and €1.037.240 in VAT were recovered, while intra-Community and ceiling VAT controls reported a recovery of approximately €5.147.998 in VAT due.
Campania 4 (Benevento-Avellino): cars, evaded excise duties and illegal gaming hall
Between Benevento and Avellino, the inspections focused on excise duties and intra-Community VAT. ADM, in collaboration with the Benevento Traffic Police, reported three inspections of some companies active in the purchase of motor vehicles in the EU to combat "false nationalizations." The investigation revealed evaded VAT amounting to €1.431.945,90, resulting in criminal charges.
In the excise sector, an audit of a commercial warehouse selling energy products revealed unpaid excise duty of €1.176.984 and unpaid VAT of €298.773, with the legal representative filing a complaint.
Finally, the gaming sector: a completely illegal arcade with 29 machines was identified in the province of Avellino; administrative fines ranging from €43.500 to €435.000 were imposed.
Regional chemical laboratory: more analysis and support for prosecutors
The Naples Laboratory has strengthened its services and collaboration with prosecutors' offices and law enforcement agencies: of the 5.246 total analyses, 1.650 involved narcotics. Collaboration with the Local Health Authority (ASL), USMAF, and ARPAC has been strengthened.
Product Safety: REACH Controls and Toys
In 2025, 165 samples were analyzed for product safety (REACH and toys): 53 were found to be non-compliant, with a positivity rate of 32,1%, as stated in the press release. The laboratory has also joined the national network of official laboratories for the enforcement of the REACH and CLP regulations.
E-commerce and mobile lab: energy and alcohol in focus
ADM also reports its participation in a European operation to combat unsafe products sold online (Priority Control Area). The mobile laboratory also conducted missions to support the Guardia di Finanza and ADM offices in the investigation of excise duty fraud on energy products. Thirty-eight samples were analyzed, with many discrepancies (including low flash point and the presence of unintended colorants).
On the alcohol front, 578 samples were analyzed: 51 were found to be non-compliant. Tests were also conducted on wine, beer, and other beverages as part of Operation JCPO OPSON XIV against illicit trafficking and adulteration.
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Comments (1)
The article discusses important customs activities, but there's too much information and it's unclear how these operations are carried out. It would be helpful to have more details and examples to better understand the true impact of these seizures.