Italian authorities dismantled a network that exploited 84 foreign workers, including Romanians, confiscating nearly 800,000 euros

A criminal network in northern Italy is accused of exploiting 84 foreign workers, including Romanians, between 2018 and 2024 after recruiting them to pick berries. Italy’s financial police in Trento seized €790,514 from a farmer and five of his relatives—money obtained through undeclared work, unpaid wages and fraud.

The workers came from Morocco, Romania, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Cameroon. Although they had documents for seasonal work, some ended up working up to 250 hours of overtime per month for wages below the legal level. They were also charged for accommodation, transport and basic items: three euros per night for a sleeping place, 100 euros for a pillow and blanket, and five euros for each shopping trip.

Investigators found that the workers were housed in run-down and overcrowded premises. The company allegedly saved more than €753,000 illegally by avoiding the payment of taxes and actual wages.

Another nine Moroccan workers were defrauded of €37,500. The suspects allegedly demanded between €4,000 and €5,000 to convert their temporary permits into permanent ones, although the procedure was free. The case has again drawn attention to the phenomenon of “caporalato,” the exploitation of seasonal workers in Italian agriculture.