Massive seizure of cocaine in the port of Civitavecchia: 138 kilos hidden in a truck just off the ship.

Un large shipment of pure cocaine, equal to about 138 kilograms, was seized in port of Civitavecchiaduring an anti-drug operation conducted in the month of November.

The kidnapping is the result of a inter-force collaboration between the Maritime Border Police of Civitavecchia, Rome Financial Police – Civitavecchia Group andCustoms and Monopolies Agency – UADM Lazio 3.

The narcotic substance was hidden inside the load of an articulated lorry, just landed from a motor vessel coming from Barcelona, and destined for the Italian illicit market.

Risk analysis and targeted control

The investigative activity was developed within the scope of the customs and anti-drug security checks carried out at the port.

An meticulous risk analysis, conducted at inter-force level, has allowed us to identify a articulated lorry owned by a Slovenian company, considered suspicious.

During the preliminary checks, the marked nervousness of the driver prompted the operators to further inspect the vehicle, subjecting it to a X-ray examination, which highlighted anomalies in the transported load.

Jackpot's dog's nose and the discovery of the drugs

Following the results of the examination, the load was also checked with the aid of theanti-drug canine unit of the Civitavecchia Financial Police Group.

Thanks to the dog's nose Jackpot, have been identified six large industrial bags containing recycled plastic, inside which were hidden 120 blocks of cocaine.

The drug, characterized by extremely high purity, once cut and put on the market, could have generated illicit profits estimated at up to 15 million euros.

The courier was arrested and transferred to prison.

The driver of the vehicle, a 42-year-old Bosnian citizen residing in Slovenia, Was arrested in flagrante delicto for drug trafficking aggravated by the large quantity.

At the disposal of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Civitavecchia, led by Chief Prosecutor Alberto Liguori, the man was transferred to the local prison.

The operation represents a further and concrete example of cooperation between the State Police, the Guardia di Finanza and the Customs and Monopolies Agency, confirming the effectiveness of coordinated action in combating illicit trafficking and protecting the safety of Italian ports and of the entire community.