Investigations carried out by the Financial Guard of Venice into the large-scale fraud against the European Union, aimed at obtaining funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), have led to the shores of Lake Garda in the province of Brescia. As a result of these investigations, precautionary seizures have been ordered for a total value of over 600 million euros against 23 individuals, 14 of whom are under house arrest.
According to the findings, the precautionary measures also involve a 45-year-old resident of Toscolano Maderno, who was involved in the organization as a frontman. This is a phenomenon of organized crime, not linked to the mafia, which involves several European Union countries. The organization is reportedly headed by a person from South Tyrol and his Ukrainian partner living in Verona, supported by four professionals in the field and an IT expert.
The Financial Guard has reconstructed the modus operandi of the fraud: through the use of artificial intelligence, hundreds of applications aimed at internationalizing companies were falsified, creating nonexistent companies. This made it possible to obtain European funds and state public incentives. Furthermore, false requests for building credits were also created, resulting in the accumulation of the seized 600 million euros.
The ongoing investigations are seeking to shed full light on this complex fraud that has involved the Lake Garda area. This is an extremely serious case that highlights the need to strengthen controls and anti-fraud measures to ensure the proper management of public funds allocated for economic recovery.
