The economic and financial police of Naples seized 10 thousand bottles of Champagne which actually contained Prosecco made in the Marca
TREVISO. Prosecco sold as Champagne. In front of the finance lieutenant who seized false bottles and labels in Caserta, one of the perpetrators of the fraud justified himself as follows: “But look, it’s Prosecco of excellent quality, just from Veneto, we don’t sell it crap.” Good Prosecco probably yes, but in any case Champagne certainly not.
Overall, the financiers of the Nucleo of economic and financial police of Naples have seized about 10 thousand bottles of 0.75 liters, and many of these – as many as are happening in these hours – of Prosecco, purchased in wineries in Treviso and in particular of Conegliano.
The seizure of the bottles of Prosecco is one of the pieces of the “Bad Drink” investigation coordinated by the prosecutor of the Republic of North Naples which discovered – among other things – the illegal use, for the production of alcoholic beverages such as limoncelli and bitters, of alcohol intended for industrial and sanitizing purposes, with a real risk to the health of consumers. And sunflower oil, treated with a dye, passed off as extra virgin olive oil, also ended up in the seizure. There are more than twenty suspects, almost all residing in the Nocerino-Sarnese countryside (Salerno), which had the deposits of adulterated and counterfeit drinks between the provinces of Caserta, Naples and Salerno.
One organization has massively evaded taxes, especially excise duties, as alcohol to disinfect is not subject to the tax when introduced in Italy, but the product was then used for alcoholic beverages. According to the power of attorney directed by Carmine Renzulli, the criminal association also allegedly counterfeited state seals and basic foodstuffs. In total, 2,800 liters of alcohol, numerous packages of wines and Champagne, over 9 thousand bottles of liqueurs and 900 bottles of extra virgin olive oil were seized as well as 300 thousand fake bands of the best brands of drinks that were affixed to the bottles.
Money and securities were seized from a suspect. If for oil and alcohol production we can also speak of a real health risk, for what concerns the prosecco transformed into Champagne the greatest importance concerns fraud.
The investigation, carried out by the finance with the inspectors of the Central Investigative Unit of the Central Inspectorate on fraud repressions (Ministry of Agricultural Policies) made it possible to verify that the scammers bought Prosecco from Veneto companies (unaware of everything) and then in the factories they poured it or changed the label: et voilà, the bottles of Champagne of the most widespread and most common French wineries in Italy are ready.
No accounting or extra-accounting documentation was found in the plants, so it will be necessary to understand what the sales channels were, and how the bottles reached consumers.