Tax fraud worth hundreds of millions and money laundering, Chinese clandestine bank dismantled

Extensive operation by the Ancona Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza, under delegation from the European Public Prosecutor's Office (Eppo) offices in Milan and Bologna, which is dismantling a Chinese criminal conspiracy throughout Italy, aimed at international tax fraud amounting to hundreds of millions of euro and money laundering. A 'Chinese Underground Bank' was discovered and seized, with real illegal and concealed bank branches, used to collect, store and deliver the money to be laundered. A total of 250 financial police officers, 80 vehicles, a helicopter, four cash-dog dog units and scanner equipment for searching the underground spaces were deployed for the ongoing activities.

"I congratulate the Ancona Guardia di Finanza for effectively clamping down on the abusive exercise of financial activities, which under an EU mandate is dismantling a Chinese organisation dedicated to fraud and money laundering. The legislator will continue to stand by the investigators, providing them with all the necessary tools to ensure that savings are always protected from any abuse, as well as from anyone who injects money of illicit origin into the system'. This was stated by Marco Osnato, deputy of Fratelli d'Italia, chairman of the Finance Commission and the party's economic officer, regarding the operation. "I thank the Marche Regional Commander, Brigadier General Nicola Altiero, for the undoubted investigative success. It is the tip of an iceberg: that of the indefatigable, capillary commitment of the GdF; but also, unfortunately, that of the crimes committed by Chinese subjects in Italy, especially in the commercial sphere. The majority of these citizens are honest and hard-working, but we cannot close our eyes to the widespread malfeasance,' the FdI representative continued. 'Italy is open to everyone, but the attacks on our economic system cannot be tolerated. We will always be on the side of those who save and invest with honesty and good faith, regardless of nationality, because it is thanks to them that the nation is growing".