Over €2 million in cash discovered hidden in Mugnano's cold storage units.

Mugnano – A veritable treasure trove of banknotes, hidden in the most unlikely places of a seafood wholesaler: on a mezzanine directly above the cold storage rooms, between office drawers, and even inside lockers in the locker room. This is the major discovery made by members of the Economic and Financial Police Unit of the Naples Guardia di Finanza during the latest searches related to the investigation into financial crime in Naples.

In total, the Guardia di Finanza found and seized €2.190.878 in cash. The largest portion of the huge sum—€1.973.380—was discovered inside the trading company based in Mugnano di Napoli.

Despite the careful concealment measures employed to hide the money, the financial police's thorough searches allowed them to recover the entire sum. Additional bundles of cash were located and sealed during searches of other properties and businesses linked to the suspects.

The main investigation: the massive seizure of 17,6 million euros

The discovery of the cash represents only the latest step in the execution of the precautionary seizure order issued by the investigating judge of the Court of Naples, at the request of the Third Economic Crime Section of the Naples Public Prosecutor's Office (an operation already announced in the note of last October 14).

The comprehensive investigation led to the seizure of taxable assets—movable, immovable, and financial—worth over €17,6 million, with the aim of confiscating any remaining assets. The precautionary measures targeted a complex asset pool belonging to 14 individuals and legal entities. The frozen assets include 70 buildings (including apartments, garages, and villas still under construction), 11 plots of land, 2 cars, 3 motorcycles, 4 luxury watches, various gold jewelry, company shares, and all active bank account balances.

The Fraud Network from Naples to Milan

According to the prosecution's framework, shared by the investigating judge, the investigations have revealed the operations of a fully-fledged criminal syndicate with connections and operations across the provinces of Naples, Caserta, Avellino, Rimini, and Milan.

The group allegedly specialized in a network of tax frauds in the wholesale fish sector, the improper receipt of state-guaranteed bank loans, and subsequent money laundering and self-laundering of illicit proceeds, which were systematically reinvested in real estate and new commercial activities.

Since this is a precautionary measure issued during the preliminary investigation phase, the provisions remain subject to subsequent appeals provided by law, without prejudice to the principle of presumption of innocence for all suspects until a final conviction is issued.