Thousands of illegal electric scooters imported from China have been seized throughout the national territory by the Guardia di Finanza of Palermo. According to investigations, the vehicles were sold as pedal-assisted bicycles and were not compliant with the CE marking, which certifies a product’s conformity to the safety, health, and environmental protection requirements established by the European Union. Currently, a Palermo entrepreneur and a company are under investigation for commercial fraud and forgery of a public document.
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The operation of the Guardia di Finanza
The operation required a significant deployment of forces. Given the widespread presence of scooters throughout the peninsula, collaboration was necessary from the Guardia di Finanza in Calabria, Campania, Puglia, Lombardy, Sardinia, and Tuscany. The seizures were carried out in warehouses of wholesalers and retailers.
The investigations, which also involved cooperation from the Guardia di Finanza of Gioia Tauro, uncovered serious gaps in the documents certifying the safety compliance of the e-bikes presented to customs by the Palermo entrepreneur at the time of importation. Since 2023, according to estimates by the financial police, at least 6,885 vehicles have been imported, with a total value of about 5 million euros.
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Also, thanks to the help of the Ministries of Infrastructure and Made in Italy and trade associations, further checks verified the existence of a system of incomplete certifications: the technical files lacked overall machine drawings and control circuit diagrams, detailed and complete drawings accompanied by calculation notes and test results, documentation related to risk assessment, applied standards and technical specifications, and reports on test results, as well as initiatives taken to prevent modifications to the technical characteristics of the vehicles.
The e-bikes
E-bikes or EPAC are pedal-assisted bicycles. They use an auxiliary electric motor with a maximum power of 250 Watts. The power supply stops or progressively reduces if pedaling stops and in any case before the speed reaches 25 kilometers per hour.
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