Reorganized armed gangs, drug trafficking, and the risk of infiltration: criminal emergencies in Sardinia

Organized crime and new gangs or the reorganization of old syndicates, but also the high number of drug-related crimes, the threat of mafia infiltration, and the dramatic overcrowding in Sardinian prisons, especially given the possibility of numerous inmates being transferred to the island under the 41bis regime. At the same time—despite staffing problems—the backlog of cases in Sardinia's various courts appears to be improving.

These were the topics discussed during the inauguration ceremony for the judicial year of the Cagliari Court of Appeal district. Acting President Maria Teresa Spanu and Attorney General Luigi Patronaggio hosted the event, presenting reports on the state of justice in the various courts and prosecutors' offices.

"Neither the chronic staff shortage, nor the deployment of judicial and administrative staff," the president said, "as well as the succession of legislative changes have prevented the district's judicial offices from achieving positive results both in reducing the length of trials and in clearing the backlog."

Prosecutor General Patronaggio drew a map of crime and crime on the island . The historic criminal organizations of Barbagia, Goceano, and Ogliastra have reportedly reorganized, equipping themselves with weapons of war and explosives to carry out robberies of armored vehicles and post offices. On the drug trafficking front, criminal groups control narcotics trafficking and vast marijuana plantations. Regarding the risk of mafia infiltration, the magistrate noted the concrete danger of traditional mafias from the mainland reinvesting illicit capital in Sardinia's tourism, renewable energy, and restaurant sectors. A sharp increase in cybercrime (+66.8%) and online fraud has also been recorded .

The Nuoro area has seen a record number of homicides, plagued, according to the Attorney General, by a high number of intentional homicides, attempted homicides, and aggravated robberies, often hampered by a deep-seated reluctance to cooperate with authorities. There's also a resurgence of old family feuds (Patronaggio cited Orune), while in Oristano, extortion and fraud against the elderly (the "false carabiniere" technique) are a concern.

In Tempio Pausania, investigators are focusing their attention on urban planning and environmental crimes in prime areas like the Costa Smeralda, as well as tax fraud and money laundering.

"Of concern," the prosecutor stated regarding minors, "is the online presence of young people who champion supremacist and neo-Nazi theories, as well as the phenomenon of truancy." Finally, regarding prison conditions, penitentiaries suffer from overcrowding, a shortage of medical and nursing staff, and an increase in suicide and self-harm among inmates.