Drug plantation in the Terralba area: those under investigation by the judge

From the Nuoro area to the Oristano plains for a hemp crop that could have brought in tens of thousands of euros .

The plans of a group, described by the Carabinieri as "very well organized and structured," were thwarted Monday afternoon with a raid in the countryside between Terralba and San Nicolò d'Arcidano. Eight people were arrested, while a minor (originally from Talana) was released to his parents.

The validation hearings will be held tomorrow at 9.30 in Massama prison. The following will appear before the preliminary investigations judge Federica Fulgheri: Alessio Meloni, 35 years old from Bortigali, defended by the lawyer Luciano Rubattu; Giuseppe Gungui (20) from Orgosolo, represented by Francesco Manduzio; Fabio Lutzu (29) from Mamoiada, defended by Gianluca Sannio; Alex Dettori (32) from Bortigali, assisted by Mario Gusi; Giovanni Moro (25) from Mamoiada defended by Marco Basolu; Mauro Tegas, (36) from Talana defended by Renato Pilia; Andrea Muggianu (40) from Talana defended by Fabrizio Manai, Francesco Melis (23) from Mamoiada defended by Tullio Moni.

The investigation began after Forestry Corps officers from the Marrubiu station found some hemp plants after responding to a fire.

From there, a more in-depth investigation began. The Oristano Prosecutor's Office deployed a task force of Carabinieri and Forestry Police, who quickly identified the plantation inside apparently abandoned greenhouses. A raid was launched on Monday afternoon, and upon seeing the officers, the suspects attempted to flee in three cars.

One was stopped immediately, two more a few kilometers later, while the remaining six, who fled in a pickup truck, were apprehended after a chase lasting several kilometers. All were arrested on charges of growing and transporting marijuana. They had thousands of plants weighing a total of 11.5 quintals, with an active ingredient of 6 percent.