'Ndrangheta, narcos linked to the Siderno clans in trafficking at the port of Trieste
Maxi seizure of cocaine, 80 million in income taken away from criminals. Four groups have been identified in Italy by investigators
Published on: 09/27/2023 – 15:54
'Ndrangheta, narcos linked to the Siderno clans in trafficking at the port of Trieste
TRIESTE The proceeds stolen from the criminal network dedicated to international drug trafficking , dismantled today by the GDF of Trieste, directed by the local District Anti-Mafia Directorate with the prosecutor Federico Frezza, amount to approximately 70-80 million euros . A figure that the traffickers could have obtained once the 717 kilos of pure cocaine , coming from Colombia and seized by the police, had been cut. This is one of the details that emerges from the Cultro 23 operation , the results of which were presented today during a press conference at the Prosecutor's Office .

The Calabrian group linked to the Siderno 'ndrine
The precautionary measures, 14 carried out today, concern, among others, 4 people already in prison and 5 Colombian citizens , for whom a European arrest warrant has been issued; extradition procedures will also be activated. Four groups of criminals have been identified in Italy: «A French group with a double Franco-Moroccan passport – explained Colonel Leonardo Erre , commander of the PEF unit of the GDF of Trieste – a group from Campania , with a subject who should be contiguous to the Mazzarella clan ; a Calabrian group, people who, according to court evidence, have been convicted of criminal association because they were members of the 'ndrine of the Siderno clan ; a Swiss group, of which for now only the Colombian mediator has been identified".

The role of undercover agents
As part of the operation, which began last December with the seizure of the drugs in Colombia, deliveries of the narcotic were documented for three months . Undercover agents played a logistical role: they guarded the drugs and delivered them . For the "disturbance" they were given money, equal to approximately 10% of the value of the goods. Hence the 700 thousand euros seized and made available to the State . The port of Trieste played a key role in this operation, used as a decoy– explained the chief prosecutor, Antonio De Nicolo – to convince Colombian sellers to use this destination location». But then the drugs arrived by plane and were seized. In general, added De Nicolo, the port of Trieste attracts a lot of legitimate traffic, but "also illicit ones and must be paid attention to ". ( Ansa )