Fuel: special checks by the Rome Financial Police – over 26,000 litres of diesel seized

Officers from the Rome Provincial Command, in collaboration with officials from the Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM) – Anti-Fraud Office and Chemical Laboratory, have completed a further extensive programme of operations in the road fuel distribution sector in the capital and across the province, aimed at combating tax fraud, ensuring price transparency and safeguarding consumer safety through the carrying out of 68 inspections.

As part of the first line of action, which focused on combating fraud relating to the quality and quantity of energy products, targeted inspections were carried out at facilities in the capital, Civitavecchia and Frascati using the Customs and Monopolies Agency’s mobile chemical laboratory. This enabled chemical analyses to be carried out in real time. Laboratory analyses of the diesel samples taken revealed a flash point below the statutory minimum limit of approximately 55°C, a chemical anomaly which, as well as potentially causing engine malfunctions and reduced performance, poses safety risks during the handling of the product. A flash point below the legal threshold is, in fact, almost always indicative of contamination or fraudulent adulteration, which occurs when diesel is intentionally ‘cut’ with more volatile and cheaper chemicals — such as solvents, recycled light hydrocarbons or petrol — to illegally increase its volume and evade excise duties. This initial phase of the operation concluded with the seizure of over 26,100 litres of non-compliant fuel and the sealing of 4 storage tanks and 4 fuel dispensers, resulting in five individuals being referred to the judicial authorities on suspicion of commercial fraud and evasion of excise duty assessment or payment.

The second line of investigation focused on the compliance of prices and market transparency, with the Financial Police from the Rome, Civitavecchia and Guidonia Montecelio units carrying out 34 specific checks on price regulations among traders. Following these investigations, a total of 9 infringements were identified, of which 5 were for a lack of transparency in the prices displayed, one for irregularities in the keeping of records and three for failure to provide prior notification of the prices charged to the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy via the designated online platform. This obligation to report prices electronically is laid down by law precisely to ensure maximum market transparency and to enable consumers to make a clear and immediate comparison of prices, thereby preventing potential price gouging at the pump.