Potenza, maxi-drug operation against a gang active in Southern Italy

Potenza, maxi-drug operation against a gang active in Southern Italy.

Today - by delegation of the DDA of Potenza – the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Matera have implemented a precautionary custody order issued by the District Magistrate of Potenza against 19 suspects considered seriously suspected of criminal association aimed at illicit trafficking of narcotic substances aggravated by the high number of participants (greater than 10), by the association being armed and by the use of the mafia method.

The provision constitutes a development of the investigations which at the time concluded with an arrest of a suspect in a crime issued by this Office and carried out on 18 October 2021 against 3 other suspects believed to be the leaders of the organisation.

The investigations

The investigations, carried out by the Carabinieri Company of Pisticci and coordinated by this Anti-Mafia District Prosecutor's Office, have made it possible to acquire serious clues regarding the existence of a criminal group active in drug trafficking, made up of numerous associates operating in Marconia di Pisticci, Bernalda and Scanzano Jonico and with drug supply channels in the province of Bari and Taranto, active since 2020 with ongoing conduct.

At a circumstantial level, significant data emerged from the investigations which characterized the criminal activity investigated which imposed itself on the local drug market through diversified strategies, in particular both by involving a minor (aged 11), yes with intimidation, i.e. through beatings, threats, violence and retaliatory activities against individuals who hindered the organisation's illegal activities, as demonstrated by the preparation of an attack using an explosive device against individuals deemed by the organization informers of the Carabinieri and which the investigators prevented thanks to the seizure of the explosive and the arrest of the person responsible for preparing it.

Seizures and precautionary measures

During the investigations, several seizures of cocaine, hashish and marijuana were made, as well as €3550 in cash, 20 homemade explosive sticks of various sizes (two of which were already filled with gunpowder), 2 cylindrical tubes together with numerous nails and marbles in iron useful for the manufacture of the deadly so-called stubi bombs and "paper bombs", as well as the arrest of 4 other subjects in flagrante delicto.

The main crimes alleged are:

1. association aimed at drug trafficking, aggravated by being made up of more than 10 individuals, by being armed and by the use of the mafia method (articles 74, 80 DPR 309/90, 416 bis 1 penal code);
2. possession and dealing of narcotic substances aggravated by the use of minors under the age of 18 in the drug dealing activity (art. 73, 80 of Presidential Decree 309/1990);
3. complicity in illegal detention and porting of explosives, attempted manufacture of deadly devices aggravated by the mafia method (articles 2 and 4 L. 895/67, articles 1 L. 895/67, 110, 56 of the criminal code).

The measurements were carried out in the municipalities of Pisticci (MT), Bernalda (MT), Taranto, Ginosa (TA), Laterza (TA), Altamura (BA), Santeramo in Colle (BA) and Cerveteri (RM), against :

to. precautionary measure of custody in prison:

• 1. TAURIELLO Sandro born in Germany, class of '80 (ORGANIZER);
• 2. LEONE Gaetano born in Bari, class of '89 (ORGANIZER);
• 3. DIMONTE Graziana born in Pisticci (MT), class of '89 (ORGANIZER);
• 4. LOVECCHIO Giovanni born in Matera, class of 74 (PARTICIPET);
• 5. SANTORSOLA Graziano born in Pisticci (MT), class of '88 (PARTICIPET);
• 6. GALLITELLI Valentino born in Policoro (MT), class of '80 (PARTICIPET);
• 7. PLATI Gianpaolo born in Policoro (MT), class of '78 (PARTICIPET);
• 8. CICCARONE Francesco Paolo, born in Santeramo in Colle (BA), class of '75 (SUPPLIER);
• 9. GIOSUE' Paride, born in Novi Ligure (AL), class of '69 (SUPPLIER); 1
• 0. PAOLINI Antonio born in Rome, born in 2001 (PARTICIPET);

b. precautionary measure of house arrest:

• 11. CIURLIA Italia born in Montalbano Jonico (MT), class of '55 (PARTICIPET);
• 12. CASTIGLIONE Gaetano, born in Taranto, class of '81 (SUPPLIER);
• 13. CHIRUZZI Berardino, born in Taranto, class of '82 (SUPPLIER);
• 14. SMOKING Simone, born in Santeramo in Colle (BA), class of '97;
• 15 POTENZA Mario, born in Cirigliano (MT), class of '58;
• 16. BARBETTA Ferdinando, born in Santeramo in Colle (BA), class of '81;
• 17. Barefoot Nicola born in Altamura (BA), class of '85;

c. precautionary measure of the residence obligation:

• 18. FUSILLO Vito born in Cisternino (BR), class of 87;
• 19. DE PINTO Benito born in Pisticci (MT), class of 98.

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