Catania, drug trafficking on the Sicily-Calabria axis: 13 precautionary detentions issued

From the early hours of Tuesday morning, State Police of Catania by delegation of the Public Prosecutor's Office - District Anti-Mafia Directorate has implemented an order of application of a precautionary measure issued by the Judge for Preliminary Investigations at the Court of Catania against 13 defendants, all recipients of the precautionary custody measure in prison.

The suspects appear to be under serious suspicion, with different profiles of responsibility and the state of the documents and in relation to the procedural phase which has not yet allowed the establishment of the adversarial process with the intervention of the defence, of the crime of criminal association aimed at trafficking and dealing in narcotic substances. Furthermore, some of them are seriously suspected of the crimes of possession and illegal possession of a common clandestine firearm.

The restrictive measure, issued on the basis of investigations coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate and carried out by the Flying Squad – Anti-Drug Section of the Catania Police Headquarters, welcomes the results of a complex and detailed investigative activity started in June 2020.

The survey, supported by technical measures (telephone, environmental and telematic interceptions and video recordings), has allowed us to acquire significant evidence against a criminal gang involved in cocaine trafficking on the Calabria-Sicily axis.

The activities initially involved the group led by "aricchiazza", subject considered among the most notorious cocaine traffickers operating in this capital.

Particularly, is was possible trace the cocaine supplier of the aforementioned trafficker, who would have been identified as a Calabrian is he has been in business with Catania criminal groups for years and that had long been established in the city of Catania, having its operational base in the San Giovanni Galermo district.

The investigations therefore focused precisely on the figure of the Calabrian, who he allegedly managed a large cocaine trafficking ring from Calabria, having its principals collaborators in some of the county and Catania. One of the men from Catania was allegedly employed as a courier during the multiple transports of large quantities of cocaine from Calabria to this capital city using cars equipped with special hidden compartments.

The investigative action also made it possible to document, in just under six months, as many as 20 transports and deliveries of large quantities amazing is would have been carried out by the criminal association to numerous criminals from Catania, some of whom are believed to be linked to various mafia clans in the capital.

During the investigation, they were furthermore, carried out several seizures of narcotic substances (overall, 11 kg of cocaine) and weapons (seizure of a 38 special caliber revolver pistol with abraded serial number and related ammunition).

The sum of €90.300,00 was also found in cash, walled up in a house.

All the accusatory hypotheses, currently approved by the GIP, will have to be confirmed when the cross-examination between the parties is established, as legally required.

For the vast and complex dynamic activities in the area aimed at tracing and capturing the recipients of the precautionary measures issued, the Flying Squad of the Catania Police Headquarters it availed itself of the collaboration of the homologous investigative bodies of Reggio Calabria and Syracuse and was also assisted by the Central Operations Service, acting under the direct coordination of the Central Anti-Crime Directorate of the State Police which sent several crews from the Crime Prevention Department.

Staff from the local police station were also involved and its peripheral branches as well as specialized units of the Regional Scientific Police Office.

To some of the recipients of the restrictive measure referred to in today's anti-drug operation already restricted for another reason, the measure was notified to the various institutions that host them.

Overall, in the Judicial Police Operation – conventionally called "Devotion" - They were approximately 100 State Police operators were employed.