The financiers of the Provincial Command of Pisa have intensified their inspection activities, intervening against various companies operating in the horse racing sector, in order to avoid any episodes of mistreatment and/or fraud in sporting events, as well as verifying the correct application of the legislation in work matter.
In particular, the Pisa Group found within the Migliarino Park Authority, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli, an area used as a stable on which there were 8 paddocks for the shelter of horses. The person responsible, a 60-year-old Italian citizen, was reported to the local judicial authority for violation of building regulations and the entire area of over 1500 m2 was subjected to seizure; the horses present there were hospitalized in a suitable facility.
The Financiers, together with personnel from the local Health Authority, found multiple prohibited/doping drugs to be administered to horses used in equestrian sporting events. The use of particular doping medicines has the aim of increasing the horse's performance in terms of speed and resistance, inhibiting pain. Among other things, some of these drugs were also aimed at evading any subsequent controls by federal sports bodies. All the medicines, for over 100 doses, and bottles for over 2500 ml, were seized and the owner of the company was also reported to the local Public Prosecutor's Office for mistreatment of animals and for the administration of drugs and substances for the purpose of alter competitive performance. Some of the medicines, banned in the national territory, bore wording in Cyrillic characters.
During the activity, in 2 other well-known equine breeding and training companies, the Fiamme Gialle identified 19 illegal/irregular workers, intent on working inside the stables, saddling horses or employed as trotting and cool-down of the horses, all aged between 18 and 55, both Italian and foreign.
In particular, on one occasion, when the Financiers showed up inside a stable, 2 jockeys and 2 grooms attempted to escape, but they were still identified by the military, found to be foreigners and without a residence permit and, therefore , have been reported to the local Judicial Authority for violation of immigration regulations.
All the workers were found to be completely unknown to the social security and welfare institutions and their work would not have been recognized by them for pension purposes.
It should be noted that, not being regularly employed, they were not covered for insurance purposes in the event of an accident in the workplace.
The so-called "maxisanction" provided for by the relevant legislation will be imposed on the 2 employers who employed irregular labor.
Investigations are underway aimed at verifying the perception of any public subsidies (such as citizenship income or other forms of assistance) by irregular workers.
It should be noted that the criminal proceedings are still in the preliminary investigation phase and that the responsibility of the suspects will be definitively ascertained if an irrevocable conviction is issued.
The operational intervention of the GdF confirms once again the transversal nature of the Corps' action for the protection of legality, for the repression of illicit phenomena that damage the country's economy, with particular regard to the exploitation of irregular labor, the protection of health of animals and the regularity of sports betting.
