Gold smuggling at Ticino border: customs uncover 230-kilogramme deal
Swiss border authorities have uncovered large-scale smuggling of precious metals. Italian perpetrators are alleged to have trafficked scrap jewellery over unmonitored border crossings for years, evading almost one million francs in duties.
Gold smuggling at Ticino border: customs uncover 230-kilogramme deal
According to findings by the Swiss customs administration, a gang of Southern Europeans has smuggled large quantities of gold across the country's border. Investigators believe that approximately 230 kilogrammes of jewellery from the neighbouring country were imported illegally, with the state losing an estimated 800,000 francs in revenue.
The Federal Office of Customs and Border Security announced on Tuesday that investigations have now been concluded. At the centre of the case is a 56-year-old man from Italy who, between 2021 and 2022, brought approximately 190 kilogrammes of used jewellery across the Ticino border within a matter of months. In doing so, he evaded duties totalling more than 600,000 francs.
The main suspect obtained the goods together with other individuals from depots of travelling people in northern Italy. In order to deceive controls, he concealed the precious metal in rucksacks and chose border crossings that are not permanently staffed. He used this route on a weekly basis without declaring the cargo or paying taxes.
In Switzerland, he handed over the gold to two accomplices aged 66 and 35. Both are from Italy and live in Switzerland. They sold the jewellery to a company that melted it down. The precious metals inspection division of the BAZG has since revoked the company's licence.
During the course of investigations, officials discovered a further incident involving approximately 40 kilogrammes of gold and three additional suspects. These individuals are also Italian nationals with residences in Switzerland.
The suspects now face penalties for tax and customs evasion as well as violations of the precious metals control law. The BAZG will determine the sanctions in further proceedings.
Source: Google News CH — Crime (de)