The raid, which took place yesterday afternoon in the countryside between Terralba and San Nicolò d'Arcidano, resulted in the arrest of nine people—including a minor—who were caught uprooting thousands of marijuana plants from apparently abandoned greenhouses.

The task force, called “Five Eyes,” was born from close collaboration between the Oristano Prosecutor’s Office, the Carabinieri, and the Forestry Corps.

The operation stemmed from several suspicious sightings in recent days and intensified surveillance of the area, including the use of drones.

According to investigators' reconstruction, the cultivation extended over a vast area and included approximately 7,000 marijuana plants, between 80 cm and 1.5 m tall, in full bloom and perfectly cared for.

Irrigation was carried out via a cascade system fed by a nearby hidden cistern. Inspections by the Cagliari RIS confirmed that the active ingredient (THC) in the plants significantly exceeded legal limits.

During the searches, two-way radios, balaclavas, burglary and cutting tools were seized, as well as cash found in the vehicles of the arrested individuals.

The operation began around 2:00 PM. The military raided the greenhouses, surprising the nine arrested men while they were uprooting the plants.

Upon receiving a halt, the suspects fled in three different vehicles . One was stopped on the spot, while the other two were pursued: the first to the Sepi dairy in Marrubiu, where he was stopped by the Mobile Radio Unit, and the second to the town of Allai, where six fugitives were intercepted and arrested thanks to the coordinated intervention of three Carabinieri patrols from Mogoro.

The detainees were taken to the Oristano police station, where they were questioned and identified. Eight adults were transferred to the Oristano-Massama prison, while the minor was released into the custody of his parents.

Investigations are still ongoing, with particular attention to identifying other members of the organization and reconstructing the drug distribution chain.

This is the fifth large-scale plantation seized in the province of Oristano in less than two months, a particularly sensitive period for marijuana harvesting and processing.

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