Giovanni
Lawyer · Turin, Italy
- 286 cases handled · 2 in this service
- 16+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, French
- Law, University of Turin
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4.99(23 reviews)
Customs Seizure of Goods in Italy
This page is for travellers, online buyers and companies whose goods, parcel, cash or vehicle were seized by Italian customs or the Guardia di Finanza. It explains the administrative and criminal tracks and how the return of seized property is pursued.
About Customs Seizure of Goods in Italy
Customs seizure of goods in Italy, called sequestro doganale, covers goods seized by customs at an airport, port or land border, a parcel held at customs, cash taken at the airport because it was not declared, counterfeit items stopped on arrival and a vehicle seized together with its load. The seizure is made by the customs and monopolies agency (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli, ADM) or by the Guardia di Finanza, and the owner usually wants one thing: the release of the property (dissequestro) and a fair end to the case. This page is information, not legal advice. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Seizure of Goods”.
Who needs this
A traveller whose luggage, watch, jewellery or cash was held; a buyer whose order from outside the European Union is stuck at customs; a person moving to Italy with a car or household goods; an importer or carrier whose shipment was stopped; and anyone who received a notice that seized goods will be forfeited (confisca).
Two tracks
- Administrative seizure. When the problem is a missing or incorrect declaration without a crime, customs hold the goods as security for duties and penalties. Paying what is due, or offering a guarantee, often leads to release, and recent decisions limit forfeiture where everything owed has been paid.
- Criminal seizure. When the facts point to smuggling, counterfeiting or another offence, the seizure is confirmed by the public prosecutor or a judge, either to keep evidence or to prevent further use. It can be challenged before a review court (tribunale del riesame) within a short time.
What to pay attention to
The seizure report (verbale di sequestro) states the reason and the rule applied; it is the starting document for any request. Deadlines run from the notice, which may be served on the spot or at an Italian address. Counterfeit goods are normally destroyed, and a buyer of fakes can face an administrative fine. Medicines and substances follow their own rules, described under drug possession and trafficking offences. Storage costs grow while the case lasts.
What an English-speaking lawyer does
The lawyer obtains the report and the file, works out which track applies, prepares proof of ownership, value and lawful origin, files the request for release or the challenge, deals with ADM or the prosecutor and, for an owner abroad, acts under a power of attorney. More on criminal law in Italy.
Questions and answers
My parcel from outside the EU is held at customs. Is that a seizure?
Not always. A parcel is often held only until duties are paid or documents are supplied. It becomes a seizure when customs suspect an offence, such as counterfeit or prohibited goods or a false declaration.
Customs took my cash at the airport. Will I get it back?
Undeclared cash is handled under specific rules: part may be held while the administrative penalty is settled, and the rest returned. Proof of where the money came from supports the request, unless a criminal investigation keeps it.
The car I was driving was seized but is not mine. What now?
The owner, a rental company or an employer, is notified and can ask for the vehicle back by showing that it did not know of the goods. The driver deals separately with the owner and with the case.
2 lawyers who provide Customs Seizure of Goods in Italy
Sorted by experience in this service. Write to any of them — the reply comes from the lawyer, without obligation.
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Alfredo
Lawyer · Naples, Italy
- 30 cases handled
- 5+ years in practice
- Speaks: English, Spanish, Italian
- Masters Degree in Law, Università Federico II di Napoli
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5.00(1 review)
Contact form · a chat with a lawyer
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2 registered lawyers provide this service in Italy. Describe your situation in a short chat — what happened, where, and how to reach you. Your enquiry is reviewed and passed to a lawyer who handles exactly this kind of case, with no obligation.
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What our clients say about our service in Italy
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He was very professional and gave me good advice and information about my situation and what can be done about it, and his English was perfect, so there was no trouble understanding. I truly appreciated the advice not only on the legal level but on a human level too.
— Nicole04 Dec 2025 -
She gave me guidance on a complex problem.
— John10 Jul 2023Personal Tax Consultation, Italy -
My husband's case is complicated. At last we have found an excellent Avvocato, and this service came to our rescue; we are very satisfied.
— Jacqueline31 Jan 2023Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice, Italy -
The lawyer was a very professional man and the family are extremely grateful for his help with our matter. The fee was good value for money, and he was very clear about what we needed throughout our case, in perfect English.
— Antony21 Dec 2022 -
He responded quickly, understood my situation thoroughly and gave me the right solution, which I am very satisfied with.
— Rowena28 Sep 2022 -
The lawyer took the time to go through my options in detail and even suggested ones I did not know about. She is very knowledgeable in this field, and the help was excellent.
— Clinton20 Jul 2022Fiscal Advice, Italy -
The lawyer was always very thorough and came up with great solutions. She patiently went through everything and talked me through my options, which was a great help as I had just moved to a new country and did not speak Italian. The assistance was excellent.
— Kelly14 May 2022Tax Services for Freelancers & Self-Employed, Italy -
Overall I had a very satisfying experience. The lawyer was very helpful on the phone, on WhatsApp and, at the end, during a 3-hour meeting at the notary's office. He is very professional and did everything I could have wanted, and I am sure we received the best service possible.
— Bo07 Apr 2022 -
Fast to respond, quick to grasp my questions and helpful every time. The assistance was excellent.
— Axelle05 Oct 2021General Tax Services, Italy -
Even though the case dragged on for more than a year, I was always kept informed about the process and got an immediate answer to every question. I am very satisfied with the final result.
— Tomas05 Aug 2020 -
The lawyer is an excellent accountant, and starting a business in Italy became very easy with her. She guided us through the complexities of Italian company law and contacts us on her own initiative with suggestions, news of new government rules or support, and other advice we need. Her English is perfect, so we never struggle to understand. I highly recommend her services.
— Eugene02 Jun 2020Business Set-Up, Italy -
He was very responsive, always told us where the process stood and moved fast whenever he could. We were very satisfied and would definitely recommend him.
— Johanna17 Oct 2025