In a recent crackdown, the Guardia di Finanza uncovered significant overcrowding in tourist rental properties in Gallipoli, specifically in the Baia Verde and Lido San Giovanni areas.

During inspections of 31 apartments, authorities found 216 young tourists, exceeding the legal occupancy limits by 73 individuals.

These tourists, hailing from across Europe, were paying between 1,200 and 3,000 euros per week for accommodations.

Notably, some properties, including garages and basement storage spaces, were illegally rented out as living spaces.

The operation resulted in over 25,000 euros in fines for property owners, with further investigations into potential tax evasion ongoing.

This initiative highlights the broader issue of unregulated tourist accommodations, as similar illegal operations were also discovered in Naples, where 32 unauthorized B&Bs were identified, leading to numerous fines and legal actions.