ΕPPO European Public Prosecutor's Office,ΔΙΚΑΙΟΣΥΝΗ, ενημέρωση

 

19/02/2026   European Public Prosecutor's Office News

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Press release

Italy: EPPO dismantles criminal group behind €1.4 million agricultural funding fraud (Luxembourg, 19 February 2025) – The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Palermo (Italy) has taken down a criminal organisation involved in agricultural funding fraud in Sicily, alleged to have caused an estimated damage of more than €1.4 million. One suspect was arrested this week and five others were put under coercive measures, while assets were also seized. According to the investigation, between 2018 and 2022, the criminal group, active in several provinces of Sicily, established fictitious companies to fraudulently acquire Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payment entitlements from the National Reserve, worth more than €360 000 – thus misleading Italy’s Agency for Payments in Agriculture (AGEA), responsible for managing and paying agricultural funds. They are suspected of declaring ownership and possession of land that they did not own, and of falsely declaring acquisition of land parcels through usucaption. Based on the evidence, the illegal profits were subsequently transferred to other companies, to conceal their illicit origin, or reinvested, including through participation in public auctions to purchase land. One suspect was placed under house arrest with electronic bracelet. The judge for preliminary investigations of Messina also ordered another suspect to stay in the municipality of residence and banned four others from holding management positions in companies or requesting EU subsidies or state contributions for one year. Besides these six individuals, 23 other suspects are being investigated for fraud and money laundering.   more

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