Guardia di Finanza
The Guardia di Finanza (/ˈgwardja di fiˈnant͡sa/) is an Italian police force directly under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. It is an integral part of the Italian Armed Forces as well as of the law enforcement agencies. Is also a military Corps. The Guardia di Finanza has a great Naval Fleet for the overseeing of the sea border, and a great air force.
Its mission and institutional tasks are stated in the law 189 of April 23rd 1959 and are subdivided into priority ones (preventing, investigating and reporting financial evasions and violations, overseeing the compliance with the provisions of politico-economic interest and surveillance at sea for financial police purposes) and contribution ones (maintaining public order and safety and politico-military defense of the borders).
Currently, the Guardia di Finanza has around 68.000 policeman (agents, NCOs, officers). Its latin motto since 1933 is Nec recisa recedit (Italian: Neanche Spezzata Retrocede; English: Not Even Broken Retreats).
Its current activities are of financial, economic, judiciary and public safety nature: tax evasion, financial crimes, smuggling, money laundering, international illegal drugs Trafficking, illegal immigration, customs and borders checks, copyright violations , Anti-Mafia operations,credit card frauds, cybercrime, money counterfeiting, Terrorist Financing, maintaining public order and safety, political and military defense of the Italian borders. In Italy also the Guardia di Finanza has some duties of military police.
The Special Departments of the Guardia di Finanza
- Gruppo di Investigazione Criminalità Organizzata (GICO): Organized Crime Investigation Group.
- Gruppo Operativo Antidroga (GOA): Counter-narcotics Group.
- Gruppo Anticrimine Tecnologico (GAT): Counter-cybercrime Group.
- Comando Operativo Aeronavale (ROAN): Air-Naval Operational Command.
- AntiTerrorismo Pronto Impiego (ATPI): Antiterrorism and Rapid Response Service.