Italian police carried out searches and seizures at two Amazon sites in Italy on Monday as a part of an investigation into the alleged smuggling of Chinese items, three individuals with direct data of the matter stated.
Dozens of officers from the Guardia di Finanza tax police and the customs company seized round 5,000 merchandise at a logistics hub operated by the e-commerce large in Cividate al Piano, in the northern province of Bergamo, the sources stated.
At Amazon’s Italian headquarters in central Milan, police seized IT tools and recognized the Amazon supervisor chargeable for the transportation of products inside Italy, the sources added.
Amazon in Italy was not instantly obtainable for remark.
NEW LINE OF INQUIRY STEMMING FROM PREVIOUS CASE
Italian prosecutors allege that Amazon acts as a form of “Trojan horse” permitting an as but unknown variety of Chinese items to flow into in Italy with out being appropriately taxed, a court docket doc confirmed on Monday.
Among the merchandise seized on the Bergamo centre have been toys, cell phone covers, air fryers, pens and small scissors.
It was not instantly clear what affect the 2 operations would have on Amazon’s actions in Italy.
The smuggling probe is a brand new line of inquiry stemming from an investigation into an alleged 1.2 billion euro tax evasion case.
The new case, led by Milan prosecutors along with the Monza department of the Guardia di Finanza, alleges smuggling offences by dozens of Italian firms, lots of that are believed to be fronts for Chinese entities, and the supervisor in cost of the motion of products by way of Amazon.
Prosecutors suspect that items are being introduced from China into the European Union, after which into Italy, by at the moment unknown channels, with out gross sales taxes or customs duties being paid.
The merchandise are then allegedly moved and offered in Italy by way of Amazon’s market.
Milan prosecutors are investigating each suspected smuggling and violations of the EU customs code.
PROBE EXPECTED TO EXPAND TO OTHER EU NATIONS, SOURCES SAY
Since final summer time, two different ongoing operations have proceeded with Amazon’s cooperation because of the complexity of managing items flows in the e-commerce large’s logistics hubs.
Three individuals with direct data of the matter stated the variety of merchandise concerned may whole half 1,000,000, with the probe anticipated to be prolonged to the remainder of the European Union.
Milan prosecutors have been summoned to The Hague headquarters of the EU company for legal justice cooperation Eurojust in July, the place they introduced the scope of their investigation to counterparts from a number of EU nations, together with Germany, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Sweden and Ireland.
Disputes over customs duties and gross sales taxes have fueled rising tensions with the United States over the previous yr, however it’s unclear how this case involving China will probably be considered in Washington and Brussels.
TAX EVASION: EU PROSECUTORS ALSO INVESTIGATING
In the unique 1.2 billion euro tax evasion case, Milan prosecutors investigated three managers and Amazon’s Luxembourg-based European unit over alleged tax fraud associated to on-line gross sales in Italy between 2019 and 2021.
According to the probe, Amazon’s algorithm permits it to promote in Italy items from non-EU sources, largely Chinese, with out disclosing their identification, serving to them keep away from paying Italian gross sales taxes.
Under Italian regulation, an middleman providing items on the market in Italy is collectively answerable for non-payment of gross sales taxes by non-EU sellers utilizing its e-commerce platform.
Amazon stated in a earlier assertion that it was “committed to complying with all applicable tax laws”.
In relation to that case, Italy’s tax company has submitted a settlement proposal to Amazon on which the U.S. group should determine by December.
Amazon’s tax place has additionally been investigated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), which has opened its probe into its accounts between 2021 and 2024 after new EU guidelines imposing stricter VAT obligations on marketplaces got here into pressure.
Published – November 25, 2025 11:39 am IST