Italian Authorities Expand Probe Into Alleged Customs and Tax Irregularities Involving Amazon and Chinese Imports
Italian investigators are widening their inquiry into suspected customs violations linked to Chinese goods moved through Amazon-connected supply chains, with potential implications across the European Union.
Italian authorities have intensified their investigation into alleged customs and tax irregularities involving Chinese imports circulating through Amazon-related logistics routes, marking one of the most expansive trade-compliance inquiries launched in recent years.
The operation, carried out by Italy’s financial police and customs officials, involved coordinated searches at multiple Amazon-associated sites as part of a broader effort to understand how certain products may have entered the country without the proper duties or taxes being paid.
Investigators are assessing whether the movement of goods from China into Europe and subsequently into Italy bypassed required customs declarations, potentially allowing some importers to avoid substantial sales tax obligations.
Court documents indicate that officials are scrutinising whether online marketplace infrastructure may have unintentionally provided channels that enabled products to be distributed through undisclosed pathways.
Authorities believe the value of the lost revenue could reach significant levels, prompting closer supervision of import flows connected to e-commerce operations.
A large-scale product seizure at a major logistics hub in northern Italy formed part of the latest action, with officials taking possession of thousands of items including consumer electronics accessories, household appliances, and small everyday goods.
Alongside the product inspections, investigators also collected digital records at Amazon’s Italian offices to better understand how goods were tracked, stored and transferred within the company’s national distribution network.
Italian officials emphasised that the inquiry remains focused on verifying compliance with national and EU customs legislation rather than drawing conclusions about the intent of any specific company.
Amazon stated that it consistently cooperates with authorities and maintains its commitment to full compliance with relevant laws.
The investigation aims to determine whether any third-party suppliers or intermediaries may have used marketplace systems to channel goods into Italy without paying required taxes.
Prosecutors working on the case believe that the number of items involved could expand significantly, potentially including hundreds of thousands of products connected to a network of Italian-registered firms suspected of operating on behalf of external entities.
Many of these companies are being reviewed to understand whether they served as intermediaries for goods entering the EU through non-standard or unreported routes.
Officials see this inquiry as an extension of a previous tax-related case involving substantial sums and linked commercial structures.
The current investigation may soon broaden beyond Italy, as European agencies and prosecutors across several member states have been briefed on the early findings.
Authorities from multiple EU nations have shown interest, given the possibility that similar trade patterns could have occurred across the bloc.
Cross-border coordination is expected to increase, particularly in countries where goods frequently enter the European market before being distributed internally.
The situation unfolds at a time when customs regulations, digital-marketplace oversight and international trade tensions remain key points of discussion across Europe.
Policymakers have been examining how large volumes of low-value goods from abroad are processed, documented and taxed, especially when sold through expansive online platforms.
This investigation adds another layer to those discussions, as officials seek clarity on how goods move through complex multinational supply chains.
While the long-term implications for Amazon’s operations in Italy remain uncertain, the inquiry signals a heightened regulatory focus on e-commerce logistics and customs compliance.
Authorities emphasise that their goal is to ensure that all market participants follow the same rules, regardless of their size or the scale of their international operations.
Further developments are expected as evidence is analysed and cooperation with other EU jurisdictions progresses.
