According to sources between 21 and 28 tanneries have been linked directly with the police crack down including the employees from the Faeda, Arbapelli and Sepo tanneries. One source told Leather International that the total evasion could be worth €240 million and is connected to VAT avoidance. Wet-blue imported into Italy from Brazil is also implicated. However, this has not been substantiated.
It is believed that the latest arrests form part of the third police wave of investigations in the Arzignano tanning zone. According to reports in the local newspaper the Il Giornale Di Vicenza it described the arrests as part of the ‘dirty leather’ investigation following what it called ‘il blitz’ as the police clamp down of tax avoidance in the tanning region. More to follow.
