Drugs from Albania to Italy/ The group of traffickers is hit, 12 arrested

2024-09-23 22:22:00, Kronika CNA

A major Italian anti-mafia operation in Bari led to the arrest of 12 people. Italian media reports that under investigation were 27 people accused in connection with the promotion and support of an organization dedicated to the sale of cocaine.

After the anti-mafia investigations, it turned out that the drugs in Italy came from Albania by means of fishing boats. This showed once again the strong connection between Italian and Albanian mafia organizations.

The operation carried out this morning has led to the arrest of 12 people, of which 11 have been transferred to prison and for one the security measure of house arrest has been set.

Those arrested are charged with the illegal trafficking of narcotic substances, particularly cocaine, along with the management and distribution of such substances in the local market of Foggia and surrounding provinces, including Barletta-Andria-Trani, Lower Molise and Abruzzo .

But it seems that the operation has created a deadlock regarding the other 15 people, who, due to delays in the interrogation procedures, were not arrested. This new situation can only be resolved by a judge, who must hear the suspects before deciding whether to proceed with the arrest, to avoid considering these people guilty of more serious crimes than those immediately arrested. As a result, these 15 suspects already know the context of the investigation and the details of the proceedings, creating fear among the authorities for possible leakage of investigations or destruction of evidence.

The coordinator of the DDA Bari, Francesco Giannella, explained the context in which the arrests were made, underlining the complexity associated with the implementation of the interrogation. Prosecutor Roberto Rossi also expressed concerns about the potential risk of suspects fleeing or tampering with evidence, given that some people at risk of arrest now have access to sensitive information about the proceedings.

DDA Public Prosecutor Ettore Cardinali pointed out the inadequacy of these new procedures in the specific case of organized crime, suggesting that a more traditional approach could guarantee greater effectiveness in arresting and detaining the figures involved in the mafia organization.