Anti-drug operation: a powerful criminal organization linked to the 'Ndrangheta dismantled, 15 precautionary measures issued.

On the morning of October 14, the financiers of the Provincial Command of Milano and Central Organized Crime Investigation Service of Guardia di Finanza they carried out an important operation against international trafficking of drugs, with the issuance of 15 precautionary measures against the same number of suspects.

The investigation, coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) di Milano, led to the arrest of 12 people in prison and the application of the house arrest for 3 individuals, all members of aarmed criminal association linked to the 'Ndrangheta of Locride.

The group, organized and well structured, was responsible for managing and financing a international cocaine trafficking from South America.

Thanks to meticulous investigative work, a vast criminal network operating between Lombardy and Calabria, using advanced systems of encrypted messaging and by exploiting direct contacts with organizations Campanian criminals e Albanians.

In just over 12 months, the organization has moved cocaine worth over 18 million euros, with an intense distribution activity in the main drug dealing areas of the Northern Italy.

The investigation revealed the complexity of the criminal network, with direct links to the 'ndrine Papalia-Carciuto, Marando-Trimboli e Barbaro 'U Castanu and an satellite Camorra group of Di Lauro family in Naples.

The organization, in fact, has operated as a multifunctional entity, with members who, in addition to dealing with drug trafficking, also held important roles in other criminal gangs.

The strong point of the investigation was the use of encrypted devices latest generation for planning drug imports and managing payments via informal compensation systems.

Decisive support was provided by theEuropol and one European Investigation Order, which allowed the acquisition of conversations vital to decoding criminal operations.

The operation, which saw the support of units dog lovers for the tracing of narcotic substances, involved searches in the province of Milano, Pavia and Reggio Calabria, to search for further evidence and arrest the remaining members of the criminal network.

The operation demonstrates the effectiveness of the synergy between the Guardia di Finanza , justice, and represents an example of contrast to international illicit activities.