Tax Cheats as Sailboat Owners Become $13 Billion Italy Dragnet

Mario Calabrese fumes as he stands near his 10-meter (33 feet) sailboat docked at the Rome Harbor where, days earlier, 20 inspectors swept through the port searching for well-heeled tax cheats.

“People are pretty upset here,” said Calabrese, a 58-year-old builder. “I’m not so concerned, as my accounts are in order, but it’s wrong to target yacht owners. If I buy a boat, I help the workers who made it, and help keep the economy going.”