Drug trafficking (also) from Calabria to Puglia, 14 arrests
State police operation in the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce. Twenty-five are under investigation
Published on: 12/12/2023 – 1.37pm

BARI There are 14 people arrested and taken to the police station in the provinces of Brindisi and Lecce, on various charges of association dedicated to the illicit trafficking of narcotic substances and illegal possession of weapons. In total there are 25 people involved in the police investigation directed by the deputy prosecutor of the DDA of Lecce, Carmen Ruggiero, which brought to light the existence of two groups: one referable to Salvatore Perrone, known as "friculino"; and another referable to Fabrizio and Gimmi Annis, and to their trusted man - according to the investigators - Massimiliano De Marco. The investigations revealed that the territories of San Pietro Vernotico, Squinzano and Trepuzzi were subjected to the control of historical fringes of the Sacra Corona Unita which interact with each other in the management, in particular, of drug and weapons trafficking.
According to the investigators, Salvatore Perrone, head of the entire organisation, would have imposed both the price of the narcotic which he supplied almost exclusively, and how much to allocate to the prisoners.
The association would have supplied itself through various supply channels, including those in Calabria, Fasano and Lucania. The police also seized large quantities of marijuana, hashish, cocaine and heroin; as well as weapons and explosives. According to the investigations, the criminal groups, making use of the intimidating force of the Sacra Corona Unita, also demanded the payment of a percentage on the sale of narcotics carried out by third parties.