Florence: control of the territory, arrests and reports by the Carabinieri

The Carabinieri's commitment to combating the criminal resurgence in the various neighborhoods of the City of Florence continues: "high impact" services continue in the areas adjacent to and bordering via Palazzuolo and the San Jacopino neighborhood. About 230 soldiers employed, 100 cars deployed on the territory together with the Special Departments (mobile line operational intervention teams, Canine Unit, Forestry Unit, Helicopter Unit, NIL and NAS).

Over the course of the services were approximately 300 subjects were checked of which many were already known to the police force and 60 vehicles. Of the people subjected to control, 18 have been reported to the local Prefecture as drug users since they were found in possession of small quantities of various narcotic substances; against 6 more people were issued with an expulsion order ex art. 2 TULPS in compliance with the Ordinance of the Prefect of Florence of 10 October.

In the last few days, during operations to combat petty crime, the Carabinieri of the Florence Company have drawn attention to arrest in flagrante delicto of the crime of attempted theft by sleight of hand two Bulgarian citizens, aged 29 and 25, surprised in via Calzaiuoli by a patrol of Carabinieri on foot while they were intent on stealing the wallet contained inside the bag of a Spanish tourist (arrests validated and the measure of prohibition of residence in the Province of Florence applied).

Furthermore, the military personnel of the Arma have reported at liberty to the Public Prosecutor's Office of Florence:

• a Gambian citizen, cl. '91, for the hypothesis of the crime of stolen as, following a check near the tram in via Alamanni, he was found in possession of a mobile phone that had been stolen in Florence the day before;
• an Egyptian citizen, 20 years old, for the hypothesis of the crime of carrying weapons or objects capable of offending as he was found in Morales Square in possession of an electric stun gun;
• a Tunisian citizen, cl. 2006, for the hypothesis of the crime of possession of narcotic substances, since, following a check in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, he was found in possession of approximately 6 grams of hashish, a scale and 175 euros in banknotes of various denominations considered to be the likely proceeds of drug dealing.

Furthermore, during the morning of November 26, the Carabinieri of the NIL and NAS inspected a bar located in the Campo di Marte district, raising administrative sanctions for a total amount of approximately €11.000,00 for the presence of an undeclared worker.

During the afternoon of November 28th:

• the NIL Carabinieri inspected a minimarket located in via Bartolomeo Cristoforo, raising administrative sanctions for a total amount of €5.000 for violations of regulations regarding the protection of health and safety in the workplace;
• the Carabinieri of the local Forestry Unit inspected a car repair shop in the San Jacopino area, raising administrative penalty of €4.000,00 for failure to keep a register of loading/unloading of hazardous waste.

During the services, again, the use of the canine unit allowed us to find and seize, near the Cascine Carlo Monni tram stop, 16 gr. of cocaine hidden in the existing vegetation, 21 grams of hashish in Piazza Savonarola and 25 gr. of hashish at the Fortezza da Basso.

The operations summarized so far, carried out in close coordination with the other Police Forces and under the aegis of the local Prefecture, will continue also in the month of December with the main aim of prevent widespread crime and urban decay, such as predatory and drug-related crimes, in order to guarantee citizens' rights and freedoms on a daily basisThe services performed every day by the Departments of the Territorial Force remain guaranteed.