A major operation by the Carabinieri of Oristano yesterday seized a marijuana plantation and arrested eight people (five Colombian nationals) in the countryside of Villaurbana.

Operation "Aristeo" was carried out by the Carabinieri of the Oristano operational section in collaboration with the Cacciatori di Sardegna helicopter squadron, supported in the operational phase by soldiers from the Oristano, Mogoro, and Ghilarza Companies, a helicopter from the 11th Carabinieri unit in Elmas, and soldiers from the RIS (Italian Special Operations Unit) in Cagliari. The raid began yesterday when several of the suspects were caught in the act of processing a large quantity of cannabis in a farm warehouse. Arrests were made immediately, and the eight suspects are in prison in Massama at the disposal of the judiciary.

The large cultivation of 4,506 plants, some over 1.30 meters tall, irrigated with a drip system fed by a well with a submersible pump, was seized. Tests on some cannabis samples, conducted at the RIS laboratories, revealed THC levels exceeding the permitted limits.

During the search of the company, the Carabinieri found numerous plastic bags and containers containing dried portions of cannabis plants with buds, totaling 290 kilos, cash, and packaging materials.

According to the provincial commander of Oristano, Steven Chenet «the presence of the Colombians raises the hypothesis of a structured organisation dedicated to the cultivation, production and distribution of

drugs, revealing a real business system" we read in a note.

Carabinieri checks continue non-stop, especially to prevent and combat drug trafficking.

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