Unveiling the Agricultural Fund Scandal

Maxi seizure of European funds intended for the agricultural sector and obtained unlawfully. The Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Naples have executed a preventive seizure order, issued by the judge of the Court of Salerno at the request of the European Delegated Prosecutors Office of Naples, for assets with a total value of approximately 1,137,000.00 euros. The real precautionary measure was issued against 14 people (out of a total of 41 suspects), heavily suspected, for various reasons, of criminal association aimed at committing aggravated fraud against the European Union, crimes against public administration (particularly corruption), and forgery. The complex investigation, conducted between 2022 and 2024, revealed the existence of a stable organizational structure that allegedly operated, according to investigative findings, with the help of public officials serving in the Campania Region, who allegedly subjugated their public functions to the interests of the criminal group, as well as freelance professionals. The illicit activities mainly focused on the unlawful receipt of European funds intended for the agricultural sector and rural area development, through the submission of funding requests based on untruthful data, artfully created through instrumental agreements and the complicity of agrarian technicians and officials of the Campania region, which allowed the owners of the involved companies to climb the regional rankings, enabling the granting of allocated funds. Simultaneously, corruption behaviors emerged, with the acceptance of promises of percentages on obtained or requested contributions. Additionally, there was a member of the Law Enforcement (currently retired but active at the time of the events) who would report on any investigations conducted regarding frauds against the European Union, mislead ongoing investigations by performing ideologically false acts, and provide ‘consultations’ to fund applicants. The investigative activities were carried out by the ‘Eppo’ Section (European Public Prosecutor Office) of the Investigative Unit of the Provincial Carabinieri Command of Naples.