Tax fraud in Milan logistics: €27.8 million seized from Fiege and Bcube
The Milan Financial Police have carried out a precautionary seizure of €27.8 million against four companies that are leaders in the logistics sector, accused of tax fraud.
Financial Police operation in logistics sector: four Milan companies under investigation
Officers from the Milan Provincial Command have executed a decree of urgent precautionary seizure issued by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office against four companies operating in the logistics sector, for a total amount of €27.8 million. According to milanofinanza.it.
The measure concerns Fiege Logistics Italia, hit with a seizure of €12.6 million, and the three companies of the Bcube group — Bcube Spa, Bcube Industrial Spa and Bonzai Spa — for a total of €15.3 million. All are based in Milan and operate among the principal players in the national logistics market.
False invoices and illicit labour at the heart of the investigation
The investigation, coordinated by the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office and carried out by the Economic-Financial Police Unit of the Financial Police with the collaboration of the Anti-Illegal Activities Sector of the Revenue Agency, concerns the phenomenon of illicit labour provision.
According to the investigative hypothesis, the beneficiary companies allegedly resorted to an invoicing mechanism for legally non-existent operations, through the stipulation of fictitious subcontracting contracts in violation of sector regulations. In reconstructing the so-called "labour supply chain", investigators found that employment relationships with the contracting companies were "screened" by "filter" companies, which in turn availed themselves of cooperatives defined as "reservoir" entities. These latter allegedly systematically failed to pay VAT as well as social security and welfare contributions.
Searches in seven provinces
In parallel with the seizure, searches are being conducted in the provinces of Milan, Pavia, Alessandria, Rovigo, Treviso, Rome and Potenza, against the natural and legal persons involved. Concurrently, notices of investigation are being served, also in relation to administrative liability of entities for the criminal offences attributed to company executives.
Bcube rejects the accusations
Bcube Spa stated that it has "always operated in full compliance with current regulations, with particular attention to correctness and transparency in relations with suppliers, partners and competent authorities". The company also clarified that it has already passed inspections by competent supervisory bodies in the past, which would have recognised the legitimacy of its conduct in the sector, and said it was confident that the ongoing investigation would allow it to "fully reconstruct the facts subject to verification".
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)