Overview
- A judicial seizure order issued by the GIP in Palmi was executed nationwide on July 30, 2026 after a Guardia di Finanza probe found thousands of China‑imported two‑wheelers marketed as pedal‑assist e‑bikes.
- Investigators say at least 6,885 units imported since 2023 are implicated, with an estimated market value of about €5 million and documentary evidence alleging false certificates used at customs.
- Prosecutors have named a Palermo entrepreneur and a company in a criminal investigation for fraud in commerce and false public acts while Guardia di Finanza teams seized stocks from wholesalers and retailers across several regions.
- Italian and EU rules limit pedelec motors to 250 watts and require assistance to cut off before 25 km/h, and authorities say the seized vehicles exceed those limits or have features such as throttles that make them technically mopeds and unsafe for cyclists.
- The case highlights how EU customs rely on presented conformity files to release imports, and it could prompt wider administrative checks, consumer‑protection actions and antitrust scrutiny with potential recalls, fines and tighter import controls.