The Carabinieri conducted a large-scale anti-drug operation in 2017 in Monte Santu, near Siligo. The officers found cannabis plantations in the area, and among those accused of production was a 59-year-old man from Benetutti. He, with land adjacent to the "incriminated" one, was held responsible for cultivating as many as 1,700 plants, 567 of which were in the drying phase, and 532 kg of cannabis.

The substance was processed inside agricultural buildings with the aim of being sold as a drug. Among the evidence collected against the defendant was a wiretapped telephone conversation in which another person asked him if he had 60 jute sacks, believed to be a cryptic message related to drugs, to which the suspect replied, "Absolutely!"

Defense attorneys Giuseppe Mele and Raffaele Rocco maintained their client's innocence. After eight years, the case concluded yesterday in Sassari with an acquittal because the charges were not proven. The verdict was handed down by a panel of judges presided over by Monia Adami, assisted by Valentina Nuvoli and Paolo Bulla. The panel also decided not to proceed due to the statute of limitations for three other defendants, who were charged with lesser offenses and were represented by lawyers Marco Palmieri, Luciano Pinna, and Gianluca Giordo.

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