(Reuters, Milan) Italian police raided two offices of e-commerce giant Amazon on Monday (November 24) in an expanded investigation into suspected customs and tax fraud involving goods imported from China, seizing thousands of items and information technology equipment.
Three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Italian police raided Amazon's headquarters in Milan and its logistics hub in the northern town of Cividate al Piano on Monday (November 24).
Police seized information technology equipment and identified managers responsible for transporting goods within Italy during the Milan operation; the search in Cividate al Piano yielded approximately 5,000 items, including toys, phone cases, air fryers, pens, and small scissors.
Amazon declined to comment on the Italian police raids but stated that the company is committed to complying with all applicable tax laws and fully cooperating with all relevant agencies.
Court documents obtained by Reuters show that prosecutors suspect Amazon of acting as a "Trojan horse," smuggling Chinese goods into Italy without paying sales tax and customs duties.
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This operation stemmed from an earlier crackdown by Italian authorities on a tax evasion case involving imported goods, amounting to €1.2 billion (approximately S$1.8 billion).
Milan police and the Monza police cooperated, suspecting that goods imported from China into Europe were transshipped to Italy through undisclosed channels and then distributed through Amazon. Prosecutors stated that this constituted smuggling and violated EU customs regulations.
Three sources revealed that the number of goods involved could be as high as 500,000, and dozens of Italian companies are implicated, most of which are believed to be shell companies set up by Chinese enterprises. The investigation is expected to expand to other EU countries.
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