Italian Police Seize Smuggled Luxury Cars and Motorcycles

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At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), Italian police seized 10 luxury cars and 45 luxury and vintage motorcycles from a man who allegedly smuggled them into the EU, evading the equivalent of US$275,000 in customs duties and VAT.

March 18, 2022

The luxury and vintage vehicles - Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Alfa Romeo, Kawasaki, Triumph, Moto Guzzi, BSA, and others - were seized from a garage of a villa belonging to the 70-year-old collector.

The man has been living permanently in Italy while having a fictitious residence in a South American country, a statement from the EPPO said.

The suspect is believed to have illegally imported 55 vehicles and motorcycles valued at 750,000 euro ($825,000). All 55 vehicles are registered under a company name outside of the European Union.

The case has been reported to the EPPO office in Torino as an aggravated smuggling offense.

The man had not declared any income or assets in Italy, according to a press release from the Guardia di Finanza.

The EPPO is in charge of conducting criminal investigations and prosecutions for crimes against the EU budget. It is the first supranational public prosecution office responsible for criminal investigations and prosecutions.

The office was established in June 2021, and has focused on crime related to financial fraud, tax fraud, corruption, and organized crime.

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