Italy probe reveals billions spent on faulty Chinese masks and alleged corruption

The Italian government spent €1.25 billion on Chinese‑made face masks during the early 2020 Covid‑19 emergency. Parliamentary investigations have found that a large share of the supplies were unsuitable for medical use and that the contracts were handled by the Emergency Commissioner Domenico Arcuri.

Former banker Daniele Guidi is identified as a key intermediary who earned €72 million in commissions and is now wanted by Italian authorities, with links to offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong.

Sub‑secretary Riccardo Fraccaro testified that customs official Miguel Martina warned him in July 2020 that the imported masks were non‑compliant and that customs had deliberately violated regulations. Fraccaro said he did not inform Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte to avoid jeopardising the investigation and that the dossier was later misplaced.

The inquiry, launched by the Meloni government, focuses on alleged kickbacks, opaque procurement processes and possible criminal involvement of secret societies and intelligence services.