Weapons of war and rivers of drugs transported on trucks: dozens arrested in Sardinia
Fifty suspects are in prison, nine under house arrest. Some were linked to Beniamino Marongiu, killed in an ambush in Arzana.The investigators' press conference
Not just massive cocaine and heroin trafficking . The gangs busted this morning in Operation "Termine" had access to powerful weapons and managed to kidnap a person for several hours during a dispute over a cocaine deal gone wrong . Some of the suspects included Beniamino Marongiu of Arzana, who was killed in an ambush and for whom the Anti-Mafia Directorate has accused fellow townsman Sandro Arzu, who later committed suicide in prison.
This is what emerged from the investigation by the Carabinieri of the Carbonia branch , coordinated by Chief Prosecutor Rodolfo Sabelli and Deputy Prosecutor Danilo Tronci , who busted two groups: one was responsible for smuggling drugs into Sardinia through a network of truck drivers who hid the substances in holes created with hydraulic and mechanical devices. Another group specialized in local drug dealing thanks to a series of accomplices.
During the investigation , 88 kilos of cocaine and 7 kilos of heroin were seized, with 11 arrests in flagrante delicto.
The measure resulted in 50 suspects being jailed today, nine others being placed under house arrest, two under house arrest, and one under a residence ban, while nine others were asked to submit to preliminary questioning for the evaluation of further positions, as required by the recent "Nordio" legislation.
During today's searches, a Kalashnikov rifle, dozens of pistols, and 35 kilos of pure cocaine were seized.
"Drug trafficking in Sardinia is a serious problem because it's linked to the distribution of drugs, but also to other crimes such as violence, robberies, and murders," explained Cagliari's chief prosecutor, Rodolfo Sabelli. "In the last twelve months alone, we've seized a ton of drugs, made 70 arrests, and filed 150 reports for drug dealing," emphasized Luigi Grasso, provincial commander of the Carabinieri in Cagliari.
Investigations using innovative and traditional investigative techniques were decisive, as was the coordination of all the forces in the field: the various prosecutors' offices and territorial departments present throughout Sardinia.
"The operations will continue and could lead to further results," emphasized the commander of the provincial operations unit, Daniele Credidio , and the investigative commander , Enrico Santurri, former commander of the Carbonia company that conducted the investigation.