by Maximiliano Crocamo
Interviews: Fabrizio Nieddu, Regional Commander of the Guardia di Finanza for Friuli Venezia Giulia; Pierpaolo Roberti, Councilor for Local Autonomies, Security, and Immigration
The Guardia di Finanza, Italy’s financial police, marked the 252nd anniversary of its founding on June 26 by releasing an operational report detailing the activities of its Friuli Venezia Giulia regional command from January 2025 through May 2026.
During the 17-month period, the command carried out nearly 28,000 inspections and 1,630 investigations into economic and financial crimes across the region.
Tax evasion remained a primary focus. More than 5,300 judicial investigations resulted in 309 people being reported for tax-related offenses, while authorities seized approximately €13.3 million in assets linked to fraud and tax evasion. Inspectors also uncovered 266 businesses operating entirely outside the tax system and identified 1,376 undeclared or irregular workers.
Authorities also intensified efforts against tobacco smuggling, a persistent challenge in the border region. Officers seized 249 tonnes of processed tobacco, arrested 10 people and dismantled two illegal manufacturing facilities.
Oversight of public spending led to 573 inspections involving public procurement, welfare programs and European Union funding. Of those, 286 audits focused on projects financed through Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR), examining contracts and tax credits worth more than €17 million. Investigators said fraud affecting national and European public funds exceeded €46 million.
The report also highlighted the force’s broader public safety role. The Alpine Rescue unit assisted 230 people in 179 operations, while the Trieste naval unit carried out more than 1,200 maritime patrols along the region’s coastline. The anniversary report underscored the Guardia di Finanza’s dual mission of combating financial crime while providing security across Friuli Venezia Giulia’s land and sea borders.
