Naples, Finance blitz against drug trafficking, 16 arrests
| FEBRUARY 13, 2024 10:09 AM | 0 comments
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Finance blitz coordinated by the Naples DDA led by Nicola Gratteri against drug trafficking: 16 arrests

NAPLES - The soldiers of the Economic-Financial Police Unit of the Guardia di Finanza of Naples have carried out an order for the application of the precautionary custody measure in prison, issued by the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Naples, at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Naples – District Anti-Mafia Directorate, led by Nicola Gratteri .

The provision concerns sixteen people "seriously suspected, in various capacities, of the crimes of criminal association aimed at drug trafficking, detention for the purpose of drug dealing, kidnapping for the purpose of extortion, failure to comply with the sentence". The investigations, conducted by the financiers of the GOA Section of the Organized Crime Investigation Group, would have made it possible to «reveal the operations of four different criminal groups (in the province of Naples, but with ramifications also in other Italian territories and in Spain), dedicated to the trafficking of various types of drugs (mostly hashish and cocaine)".

DRUG TRAFFICKING IN NAPLES, THE GROUPS INTO WHICH THE SYSTEM WAS ORGANIZED
In particular, a first group, operating in the territory of Naples and the province and with branches in Crotone, headed by a person who, through couriers, was responsible for the wholesale marketing of batches of narcotics in favor of customers not only from Campania but also Calabrians. A second group, operating in Naples and its province and with branches in other Italian regions (in particular, Emilia-Romagna), which would also have distributed batches of narcotics to the first group. A third group, which would have imported batches of narcotics from Spain, mainly destined for the Irpinia market. A fourth group, with an operational base in Giugliano in Campania (province of Naples), which would have dealt with the marketing of the narcotic in favor, in particular, of another criminal group active in the Vesuvian countries.

During the investigative activities, conducted in collaboration with the Central Organized Crime Investigation Service, the military seized over 300 kg of hashish, 36 kg of cocaine and over 400 thousand euros in cash. The investigation would also have made it possible to ascertain the kidnapping for the purpose of extortion of one of the recipients of the precautionary measure to force his wife and brother to pay off a debt of 7,700 euros originating from previous unpaid drug supplies.