Law enforcement and labor oversight in Potenza

In Potenza, local authorities and law enforcement agencies have been conducting coordinated multidisciplinary interventions throughout 2026 to address social degradation and illegality. Under the “High Impact” model, a technical coordination meeting led by Prefect Michele Campanaro reviewed the results of extraordinary control activities involving the State Police, Carabinieri, and Guardia di Finanza.

This institutional presence has extended to specific sectors, including the prevention of labor exploitation in agriculture. An inter-institutional task force focused on the Vulture-Melfese countryside reported that recent inspections identified 12 undocumented workers and resulted in sanctions exceeding 100,000 euros. These efforts utilize an integrated approach involving labor inspectorates, social security agencies, and health authorities to monitor worker safety and contractual legality.

Recent operations have expanded to target commercial fraud alongside labor issues. The Guardia di Finanza and the Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) identified fuel distributors selling substandard diesel with flash points significantly below legal limits for road vehicles. These inspections resulted in the seizure of hundreds of liters of fuel, following a previous seizure of over 5,200 liters in May. Suspected parties have been reported to judicial authorities for fraud in commercial activities.

Simultaneously, the “Alt Caporalato” project continues its oversight, with recent inspections identifying 23 irregular business activities in an ongoing effort to prevent “caporalato” (illegal labor brokerage) and exploitation. To further bolster regional security, Prefect Michele Campanaro has facilitated a new memorandum of understanding aimed at preventing illegal activities and safety hazards within and near public establishments through cooperation between institutions, law enforcement, and the economic sector.