179 probed across Italy over alleged 100 mn fraud

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 6 - Finance police in Reggio Emilia have uncovered an alleged tax fraud for over 100 million euros organized by a suspected criminal ring that involved 400 real and fake businesses, investigative sources said on Thursday.
    Tax police said that 179 people have been placed under investigation and 91 search operations have been carried out across Italy, from Turin to Crotone, as part of the probe.
    The operation - called 'Ombromanto' - kicked off on Thursday morning when 87 people and four companies were searched in several Italian provinces, including 23 in the area of Reggio Emilia, investigators said.
    The suspects are accused of being part of a criminal organization based in Reggio Emilia allegedly responsible of a fiscal fraud worth nearly 104 million euros.
    The alleged criminal ring also operated in Bologna, Piacenza, Parma, Modena, Rimini, Bolzano, Turin, Asti, Milan, Pavia, Monza, Verona, Perugia, Terni, Florence, Pisa, Pesaro, Rome, Rieti, Frosinone, Pescara, Naples, Caserta, Benevento, Taranto, Crotone, Trapani, investigative sources said. (ANSA).