In Olbia, officials from the Customs and Monopolies Agency of Sassari and soldiers from the Air and Naval Operations Department of the Guardia di Finanza of Cagliari seized a catamaran worth over 600 thousand euros, reporting the owner for smuggling.
The measure was triggered after an inspection at a shipyard in the Gallura city, where the luxury vessel, flying the British flag, was moored.
Investigations conducted by financial and customs officials revealed that the catamaran, purchased in 2024, had been continuously stationed within the European Union for a period exceeding the time limits set by applicable customs regulations. This was in violation of the maximum time limits set by the Temporary Admission regime, which allows maritime transport vehicles registered in third countries to remain within the EU customs territory exempt from border duties, provided that the re-exportation deadlines are met.
Following the irregularities detected by the Guardia di Finanza and Customs, the catamaran was placed under criminal seizure.
The owners, two Argentine citizens, have been reported to the Tempio Pausania Public Prosecutor's Office; they are charged with smuggling, having introduced and kept the goods in Italy without the required customs declaration, and with evading import VAT, estimated at over €132,000.
(Unioneonline)
