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The independent public prosecution office of the EU

Italy: EPPO charges nine suspects and five companies with fraud to obtain €4 million for aquaculture

Published on 3 January 2025



(Luxembourg, 3 January 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Rome (Italy) has charged nine individuals and five companies with aggravated fraud to obtain €4 million for the aquaculture sector, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

At issue are five cooperative societies, suspected of submitting false documentation and fictitious insurance policies, in order to obtain €4 million for the construction of new fish tanks and a fish boat for the aquaculture sector. During the application procedure, one of the companies was barred from receiving any funds, after it was sanctioned with an anti-mafia preventive measure.

Four companies received an advance payment of €1.4 million from the EMFF. The beneficiaries informed the paying agency that the works on the new tanks had started, but later checks showed that this was not true.

An additional request for €2.6 million was submitted to the paying agency, but the funds were not disbursed, thanks to the timely investigation of the EPPO.

The evidence gathered points to criminal responsibility of the suspects for aggravated fraud to obtain public funds, as well as embezzlement and money laundering.

Overall, four of the five companies were affected by an anti-mafia preventive measure: one during the application procedure, for another investigation, and the remaining after this investigation started.

The investigation counted on the support of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza – Comando Provinciale Foggia) and with the cooperation of the local Port Authority.

All persons concerned are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in the competent Italian courts of law.

The 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.