Taurianova (RC): the Carabinieri's fight against drug trafficking continues

Night of excitement in the towns of Cittanova, Taurianova and Rosarno, affected by the“Game Over” operation, investigation coordinated by the Palmi Prosecutor's Office (Proc. Emanuele Crescenti and Deputy Proc. Davide Lucisano) and conducted by the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Reggio Calabria, with which it was carried out new light on the sale of narcotic substances in the Gioia Tauro plain.

The investigation, called "Game Over" by the Carabinieri, takes its name from the investigative connection with the previous operations conducted in the Pianigino area by the Carabinieri of the Gioia Tauro Group, coordinated by the local Public Prosecutor's Office who, in recent years, have carried out numerous anti-drug activities, with hundreds of arrests throughout the national territory and huge seizures.

Among these, the investigations “New Age” (January 2023), “Smart Delivery” (October 2023), “Perseverant” (February 2024), in addition to the seizures of approximately kg. 3.000 of cannabis occurred last October in an area behind the port and the very recent of kg. Approximately 190 of marijuana which led to the arrest of a citizen of Rosarno a couple of days ago.

With this operation, the Carabinieri documented the close connection between the suspects of "New Age" and "Perseverant" and those arrested last night, all involved in narcotics sales.
The latter, the investigators claim in the almost 500 pages of the precautionary measure, they would have created two drug dealing centers who, in parallel, managed the retail sale of various types of drugs in the historic centers of Cittanova and Taurianova. The investigative cameras installed by the Army soldiers, in fact, recorded a constant traffic of buyers who, at all hours of the day, went to buy doses of hashish, marijuana and cocaine in the homes where the dealing took place.

On the basis of the evidence thus collected, according to the accusation hypothesis supported by the Palmi GIP who signed the precautionary order, it is believed that the suspects, thanks to supply sources on the national territory and abroad, are involved Furthermore 80 episodes of sale, purchase and possession of narcotic substances, for a total profit calculable at approximately €500.000,00.

The evidentiary value of the numerous recoveries of various narcotic substances, primarily cocaine and marijuana, made by the investigators had an impact on the assessments carried out by the investigating judge of Palmi regarding the existence of serious indications of guilt against those arrested. In particular, the Judge considered the arrest, during the activity, of two of the suspects to be of fundamental importance. The first was found in possession of cocaine and marijuana following a personal and home search; the second was blocked in an attempt to deliver a supply of cocaine to one of the monitored drug dealers. The latter, in particular, had tried to evade the Carabinieri controls by hiding the narcotic inside the air conditioning system of his car. However, he had not taken into account Enno, the legendary dog ​​of the Carabinieri Dog Unit of Vibo Valentia, who, as soon as he got into the car, showed signs of joyful restlessness, even finding a block of cocaine. The subsequent search carried out at the pet shop managed by the suspect then led to the discovery even 4 kg. of marijuana.

The proceeding is currently pending in the investigation phase and the actual responsibility of the persons receiving the precautionary measure, together with the validity of the accusations made against them, will be examined during the subsequent trial. Further investigative and evidentiary developments cannot be ruled out, including in favor of the people under investigation.