7 arrested for Italian tax evasion scheme

ROME, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Italian police arrested seven people Friday and seized more than $1.5 million in assets obtained from an alleged tax evasion operation, authorities said.

Those arrested were charged with criminal association and tax fraud for their alleged participation in the tax evasion plot, Italy's ANSA news agency reported.

Police said the organization, based in Ciampino southwest of Rome, filed false invoices for wholesale purchase of electronic and high-tech items from suppliers in other EU countries, then claimed credits on the tax that had not been paid.

The organization was allegedly led by a Romanian with a number of previous convictions but all of those arrested were Italian.