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Perugia. Anti-drug operation: criminal conspiracy aimed at drug dealing. Precautionary measures were carried out against 24 people

During the investigations, in addition to the seizures made, the suspects were traced and accused of trafficking in approximately 250 kg of narcotic substances, released into the national territory, with a retail market value estimated at 15 million euros.

Perugia. Anti-drug operation: criminal conspiracy aimed at drug dealing. Precautionary measures were carried out against 24 people.

The Carabinieri of the Investigative Unit of the Provincial Command of Perugia gave execution of an order for the application of precautionary measures issued by the GIP of the Court of Perugia at the request of this Office, against 24 suspects held responsible, in various capacities, for criminal association aimed at trafficking, possession and dealing of large quantities of narcotics, particularly heroin.

The execution of the precautionary measure was carried out - at the first light of dawn - as well as in the province of Perugia even in those of Caserta, Latina, Arezzo, Lucca, Pisa and Varese, with the support of soldiers from the local Provincial Commands, the air component of the 16th Carabinieri Helicopter Nucleus of Rieti and the First Response Anti-Terrorism Units of Perugia.

The investigations, started in the first months of last year, constitute the further evolution of those concluded by the Perugian Investigative Unit in the months of June and August 2022 in which they had been overall achieved, between precautionary measures and flagrant arrests, 45 subjects, 24 kg of heroin and €150.000 in cash seized.

In the continuation of the investigative line, the investigators, after the arrest of three Nigerian citizens carried out between February and March 2023 in Terontola (AR) and Sinalunga (SI), found in possession of over 1,5 kg of heroin, they managed to reconstruct a network of compatriots, resident in Perugia and Italian citizens, capable of importing significant quantities of narcotics from abroad into the Umbrian capital.

The investigations were conducted through technical activities - in the interceptions the suspects used a secret language characterized by well-defined and rigid rules and through traditional investigative activities such as observations and shadowing.

The group, unitary and pyramidal, used to use as a logistical base a rented house in the center of Perugia where hundreds of kilos of drugs would be "stored" and "resold" in a few months.

Once you receive the loaded with drugs, near the property began a real "coming and going" of other compatriots who, in turn and with well-defined tasks, purchased considerable quantities of substance which was then sold at retail through dozens of pushers; precisely the use of the latter, also used as carriers, made it possible to supply the "drug centers" not only in Umbria but also in Tuscany, Marche and Campania on a daily basis.

In order to elude any investigations, the couriers had adopted the most disparate concealment techniques over time; the various arrests made allowed the narcotics to be found in detergent drums, inside sealed fruit juice packages, inside tyres, among food shopping and rarely hidden on the person.

In several circumstances, the use of the very dangerous technique of using
“ovulatory couriers”: in one case, a person was even monitored (later arrested) who had swallowed 42 wraps of heroin, thus carrying almost half a kilogram of the substance.

Given the importance of the quantities processed and the consequent huge value of the individual lots, the association also had a “chemist” responsible for testing the qualities of the narcotic through appropriate reagents and laboratory equipment, before giving consent to the conclusion of the deal.
The investigative developments made it possible to ascertain that the main supply channel of the narcotic for the association was northern Europe.

In the course of the investigations were carried out numerous drug recoveries often operated, for reasons of expediency, by other Police Forces:

– on 19 March 2023, at the Bardonecchia crossing, a man of Campania origin was subjected to a search and found in possession of 36 kg of narcotics – of which 31 kg of heroin and 5 kg of cocaine – divided into hundreds of eggs, hidden inside a spare wheel;

– the following week, another huge drug seizure was carried out in Umbria, along the Bettolle – Perugia connection; in that case, 2 Portuguese citizens were checked who, at very high speed, were traveling in a car carrying, always hidden inside a spare tyre, 13 kg of heroin and several hundred grams of cocaine;

– a few days later in the Umbrian capital, a further 4 Nigerian citizens were arrested in the act of committing the crime of possession and dealing of narcotics and seized more than 1 kg of heroin.

From the processing of the information collected were witnessed connections between the Nigerian criminal association and exponents of organized crime in Campania with particular reference to a top management person of the “Casale clan”, with specific assignments of tasks and functions for the sale of the dangerous opiate, which is also the recipient of a precautionary measure in prison.

The precautionary measure was notified to the latter at the prison of Santa Maria Capua Vetere (CE), where he is detained for the crime of extortion. The man, apical exponent of the clan, was recently released from prison after serving a prison sentence of over 20 years following convictions for crimes of association and serious bloody crimes.

The investigating judge of Perugia, considering the circumstantial gravity also with regard to the crime of association aimed at trafficking in narcotic substances, given the existence of precautionary needs - including the risk of repetition of the crimes and the risk of escape of the suspects - assessed the social danger issued for 10 suspects the extent of custody in prison, for 3 the measure of house arrest at the home of residence and for 11 others the measurement ofobligation to submit daily to the territorially competent Judicial Police.

During the investigations, in addition to the seizures made, it was trafficking of approximately 250 kg of narcotic substance was traced and charged to the suspects, released on the national territory, for a retail market value estimated at 15 million euros.

At the same time as the arrests, house searches were carried out which allowed a total of 624 g of cocaine, 4,7 kg of marijuana and over €20.00,00 in cash to be found and seized in one of the homes available to the suspects, a sum probably believed to be the proceeds of the illicit activity. For these facts, 5 individuals of Nigerian origin were arrested in flagrante delicto and referred to the Public Prosecutor's Office competent for the territory. Furthermore, various IT media were seized and will be subject to subsequent investigations.

Of the 24 recipients of the precautionary measure, 4 are currently untraceable in the national territory for whom searches have also been activated at an international level.

Perugia. Operazione antidroga: associazione per delinquere finalizzata allo spaccio di stupefacenti. Eseguite misure cautelari nei confronti di 24 persone.

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