An investigation by the Milan prosecutor’s office has uncovered a complex system of fictitious contracts and “shell companies” allegedly designed to conceal the true nature of employment relationships and evade taxes and social security contributions. The case remains open, and the scope of suspicion may extend to additional entities linked to the subcontracting network.
Over €43 million seized by the Italian tax authorities
This week, Milan’s Guardia di Finanza officers, acting on the request of the local prosecutor’s office, urgently seized assets belonging to Rhenus Logistics SpA worth over €43 million. The Milan-based company operates in the freight forwarding and logistics sector and forms part of the German Rhenus Group.
Fictitious invoices and illegal labour supply
According to investigators, Rhenus allegedly issued invoices for services that were never delivered, linked to subcontracts whose actual purpose was the illegal leasing of workers. The Italian prosecutor’s office described this as “systematic violations of regulations, creating fictitious contractual relationships that in reality amounted to unauthorised labour leasing.”
The business model reportedly served to obscure employment relationships: workers were formally employed by external companies (so-called “filter companies”), which in turn relied on cooperatives acting as “shell companies.” These entities are accused of systematically failing to pay VAT, as well as social security and healthcare contributions between 2019 and 2024.
IKEA not implicated in the case
The investigation documents name two IKEA Group companies – Ikea Italia Retail and Ikea Italia Distribution – as major clients of Rhenus during the period under scrutiny. However, investigators stress that IKEA is not the subject of any charges or investigation.
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Another logistics giant under the prosecutor’s microscope
This is not the first time the Italian authorities have targeted a global logistics firm. In July 2024, the Guardia di Finanza seized €83.9 million from the GXO branch in Lodi. That company allegedly employed a system of bogus contracts and false invoices to cut labour costs and avoid taxes and social contributions.
Prosecutor Paolo Storari – who is also handling the Rhenus case – confirmed that the GXO investigation had uncovered false invoices amounting to a total of €382.6 million.
Do the regulations allow this to happen?
Opposition politicians from the Democratic Party have responded to the case. Maria Cecilia Guerra and Arturo Scotto criticised the current legal framework, which they argue enables illegal labour brokerage to be disguised as subcontracting. They pointed specifically to Article 29, paragraph 1 of Legislative Decree 276/2003, saying it effectively legalises worker exploitation in the logistics sector.
The politicians announced plans to revive efforts in parliament to tighten the law and clearly distinguish between legitimate business-to-business activity and employment agency services.
