The operational activities launched in the area with the coordination of the Traffic Police Service to combat the phenomenon of illicit traffic of vehicles, focused on checks on public businesses connected to vehicles. In particular, they were carried out in the Sicily Region after careful and targeted analysis of the risk indicators in the context of money laundering and car receiving offenses.
For greater effectiveness of the control activities, the support team was used, which this time saw the participation of experts in the areas of administrative control, false documents and vehicle identification.
From 20 to 24 January the administrative checks concerned commercial establishments based in Sicily and in particular in Palermo and Catania. A total of 5 self-destructors, 4 dealers and 2 Practical Car Agencies were checked and in parallel the necessary documentary checks were carried out at the Provincial Offices of the relevant Motors.
At the end of the verification activities, administrative penalties were raised for a total amount of Euro 110.636,67. In most cases these are violations of environmental authorization provisions and the presence of vehicles already treated but not yet removed from circulation (especially for self-demolition workers) and administrative irregularities inherent in registers and licenses (for dealers); 3 operators were reported in a state of freedom for environmental crimes and one also for the crime of receiving stolen goods. Two engines, 5 gearboxes and a license plate of illicit origin related to vehicles stolen in the year 2019 were subject to criminal seizure.
An order for immediate closure of activities has been notified to the owner of a Palermo car dealership in the absence of the envisaged commercial authorization and a prohibition on sale to the owner of a car dealership in Paternò (CT) for exhibition space greater than the authorized one;
The Agency of Car Practices with headquarters in Taormina was reported to the competent bodies for management irregularities (including failure to keep the journal register, failure to update the operational headquarters, etc.);
Lastly, four files were acquired from the Messina Motorization Authority relating to the nationalization of vehicles of dubious origin.
Service planning with the support team includes monthly services in each region.