Confiscation of assets worth over 6 million euros in Reggio Calabria as part of an operation conducted by the Provincial Command of the Financial Police of Reggio Calabria, with the operational support of the SCICO and the Economic-Financial Police Unit of Florence.
The provision, issued by the Prevention Measures Section of the Court of Reggio Calabria on the proposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office – District Anti-Mafia Directorate, concerns companies, properties and financial resources attributable to an entrepreneur considered to be a central figure in a corruption system linked to public procurement.
The “Inter Nos” investigation
The activity represents a capital development of the investigative findings of the “Inter Nos” operation, conducted in 2021 by the Gico of the Economic-Financial Police Unit of Reggio Calabria.
The investigations revealed the existence of a “company cartel” aimed at the systematic corruption of public officials to obtain the awarding of contracts in the cleaning and sanitation sector, effectively eliminating any form of competition.
The “common fund” and relations with the gangs
According to what has been reconstructed, the entrepreneurs would have fed a “common fund” intended both for the payment of bribes to compliant public officials and for donations to the ‘Ndrangheta gangs active in the territories of Africo and Melito Porto Salvo, deemed necessary to operate in the area.
In some cases, the payments continued even after the retirement of the corrupt officials, with the aim of maintaining privileged channels through the new administrative contacts.
The confiscated assets
In light of the investigative evidence and asset assessments of the Financial Police, the Prevention Measures Section ordered the confiscation of the entire business portfolio of a cooperative company, of the shares of a limited liability company, of a property and of a current account.
The companies operated mainly in the non-specialised general cleaning of buildings sector. The total value of the assets is estimated at approximately 6 million and 100 thousand euros.
The accusations and investigative reconstructions will however have to be confirmed in the subsequent phases of the judicial proceedings.