L'Aquila, defeat of an international criminal organization for trafficking in narcotic or psychotropic substances: 14 arrests

On the morning of July 2nd, the Carabinieri of the ROS (Special Operational Group), supported by the Provincial Commands of Teramo, Pescara, Fermo, Ascoli Piceno, Brescia and Perugia, e in coordination with the Landeskriminalamt North Rhine – Westphalia (Germany), the Udyco Central of the Policia Nacional (Spain), The Police Judiciaire Fédérale of Mons (Belgium) And the Anti-Narcotics Department of the National Police of Ukraine, have carried out 14 precautionary measures (10 in prison, 2 under house arrest and 2 required to report to the Judicial Police) – issued by the GIP of the Court of L'Aquila e Teramo, upon request respectively of the DDA (anti-mafia district directorate) of L'Aquila and of the Ordinary Prosecutor's Office of Teramo – against 14 people held responsible, in various capacities, of “Association aimed at illicit trafficking of narcotic or psychotropic substances"and "Illicit production, trafficking and possession of narcotic or psychotropic substances", articles 74 and 73 Presidential Decree 309/1990.

The investigative activity, started in December 2021 from the Section A/C de L'Aquila is conducted with numerous and demanding technical and dynamic activities, was developed in coordination with the DCSA (Central Directorate for Anti-Drug Services), also through thein collaboration with EUROJUST (The European Union Agency for Criminal Judicial Cooperation) and EUROPOL (The European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation), as well as with the support of the @ON network, Italian-led of the DIA (Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate), financed by the EU Commission.

The investigation has allowed us to document the operations of a criminal organization in Abruzzo – free from organized crime contexts mafia-type – formed by Italian, Spanish, Argentine and Colombian citizens, dedicated to trafficking, including international trafficking, of narcotic substances such as hashish and cocaine.

The narcotic substances, supplied in Spain by some suspects resident in the Iberian country, they were transported, by road, in Italy by couriers who hid it inside available trucks of the organization, for then be stored in Abruzzo in favor of the drug dealing centers of Abruzzo and the Marche. The criminal association with the summit, trusted men and associates on the national territory and abroad, he could count on points of reference in Spain and Germany.

The investigators, during the long investigation period, have carried out several seizures, for a total of approx 100 kg of hashish and 1 kg of cocaine, succeeding to reconstruct the various roles of the members. In addition to the arrests, several searches were carried out on other suspects, residents in Spain.

It should be noted that the proceedings and the suspects are now in the investigation phase, drawn from precautionary measures and recipients of guarantee information, are to be considered not guilty until the conviction becomes irrevocable and their responsibility is examined by the competent judge.