Drug trafficking in Sardinia: The Court of Appeal overturns the measures taken against four suspects; the alleged ringleader is released from prison.

A dramatic turn of events has emerged in the Polo Ovest investigation, the Cagliari DDA investigation that alleges the existence of a criminal alliance between two large Sardinian trafficking groups operating nationally and internationally since 2019, with their operational base in Olbia.

The Cagliari Court of Appeal, granting the defense's requests, released four alleged key figures in the Carabinieri investigation.

Nicola Pittalis, 47, from Ottana but resident in Olbia, Davide Podda, 34, from Villasor, and Luciano Vacca, 52, from Furtei, were released from prison, while Gianmario Lostia, 46, from Galtellì, had his house arrest revoked.

All the requests from criminal lawyers Francesco Lai and Marco Lisu were granted. The position of Luciano Corraine, 38, from Galtellì, considered one of the alleged leaders of the two allied gangs, deserves special consideration.

Criminal lawyer Herika Dessì obtained the cancellation of Corraine's pre-trial detention, and house arrest was ordered.

According to the defense, the contested facts date back in time (from 2019 to 2021) and the argument was considered well-founded.

The preliminary hearing's decision does not undermine the fundamental arguments of prosecutor Rossana Allieri, but rather addresses the risk of the crime being repeated.