Pozzallo: ADM and GDF intercept gold ingots, jewels and luxury watches

Page 1 FINANCIAL GUARD Ragusa Provincial Command TERRITORIAL DIRECTORATE SICILY PRESS RELEASE ADM AND GDF INTERCEPT GOLD INGOTS, JEWELRY AND LUXURY WATCHES IN P OZZALLO THE PRECIOUS SEIZED WERE HIDDEN IN THE SAFE ON BOARD A VEHICLE READY TO EMBARKING FOR M ALTA Pozzallo (RG) 24 July 2026 - The ADM personnel and the soldiers of the Guardia di Finanza of the Tenenza of Pozzallo, as part of the ordinary control activities carried out jointly at the port of Ragusa, seized a significant quantity of precious goods hidden inside a safe transported on board a car driven by a Syrian citizen about to embark for Malta. During the inspection, 31 gold bars were found weighing a total of 1,543.8 grams, with an estimated value, based on current prices, of approximately 177,500 euros. Silver ingots, numerous jewels and luxury watches were also found inside the safe. The entire batch of goods was seized on the hypothesis of the crime of receiving stolen goods and the Syrian citizen was reported to the Judicial Authority, since he was unable to provide suitable elements to demonstrate the legitimate origin of the goods transported. The intervention is part of the broader economic-financial supervision mechanism implemented at the port of Pozzallo. In fact, already last March, at the same airport, two gold bars, with a total value of more than 77,000 euros, were seized from an Italian citizen who was attempting to transfer them to Malta. The checks on cross-border movements of currency carried out in the customs areas of the port of Pozzallo, since the beginning of the year, have made it possible to intercept sums of undeclared cash, including in foreign currencies, for a total of 839,831 euros. The investigations led to the seizure of 257,348 euros and the imposition of administrative sanctions of approximately 180,000 euros for violation of the legislation on currency declaration. The results achieved confirm the constant commitment of the Customs and Monopolies Agency and the Financial Police in monitoring the customs areas and in combating illicit trafficking and cross-border fraud, to protect legality, economic-financial security and the interests of the European Union, also in light of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two Administrations. In relation to subjects referred to the Judicial Authority, the principle of presumption of innocence applies until the eventual issuing of a final conviction.