Bari: drugs, prostitution, extortion and threats. 9 arrested by the Carabinieri.

 The Carabinieri of Bari, with the help of the Canine Units and Helicopters, carried out aprecautionary custody order against 9 people, accused of crimes related to the drug dealing, threats, extortion, kidnapping and exploitation of prostitution. Of the 9, 7 were arrested, 1 is under house arrest and 1 has been banned from residing in the municipalities of Cassano delle Murge and Santeramo in Colle. The order was issued by the GIP of Bari at the request of the Prosecutor's Office.

The investigations were coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Bari and were conducted in the period from April 2022 to November 2023. They were carried out through shadowing, searches and seizures and allowed us to gather evidence of guilt regarding illegal activities such as drug sales.

The investigation originates from two complaints filed by a woman, victim of threats, kidnapping for the purpose of extortion, exploitation of prostitution. During the investigations, in addition to the technical interception activities, numerous observation services were carried out by personnel in the areas where there was a greater consumption of narcotic substances.

It was discovered that there were numerous individuals in the area who, in competition with each other but without any associative bond, had created a thriving drug dealing businessThe drugs requested and then sold were called by conventional names and it was possible to document how the drug dealing activity was carried out in a "itinerant", with a real one "dealer" of the narcotic via app of instant messaging. The buyers were informed of the "menu" available, of the price list per gram of doses based on the type of drug and the possibility of accessing the service “24 hour home delivery”.  

The operation testifies the constant attention of the Judicial Authority and the Carabinieri to the delicate matter drug dealing phenomenon of narcotic substances, highlighting that the Institutions are a point of reference for an effective counteraction to the criminal phenomenon.