(Luxembourg, 7 May 2025) – Today, at the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Naples (Italy), the Italian Financial Police of Caserta (Guardia di Finanza – Compagnia di Mondragone) executed an order of the judge for preliminary investigations at the Court of Salerno, to arrest 12 suspects and seize assets worth over €9.6 million.
The investigation targets 67 individuals and 27 companies suspected of fraudulently obtaining EU agricultural funds.
According to the investigation, between 2018 and 2022, the criminal association unlawfully secured over €12.5 million by falsely presenting one of its companies, based in Salerno, as a so-called Producer Organisation (PO), which is a recognised group of farmers, entitled to receive EU funding that supports collective investments for their members’ benefit.
Evidence suggests that the suspects falsified several documents to fraudulently misrepresent the company’s compliance with the essential requirements of POs status under EU law.
This company, allegedly deceived the Campania Region, Italy’s Agricultural Payments Agency (AGEA) and the EU, by unduly receiving EU agricultural subsidies financed under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The perpetrators of these offences are under investigation for alleged aggravated fraud to obtain public funds and criminal association.
The Italian Financial Police has placed 12 individuals under house arrest and has seized financial assets belonging to them and to the involved companies totalling €9.660.813.89.
All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) is the independent public prosecution office of the European Union. It is responsible for investigating, prosecuting and bringing to judgment crimes against the financial interests of the EU.