Bologna, two Nigerians arrested at airport with 130 litres of liquid drug
Two men from Nigeria were stopped at Bologna's Marconi airport whilst transporting dozens of bottles filled with a liquid narcotic substance called Monkey Tail. The cargo would have been worth over 100,000 euros.
Bologna, two Nigerians arrested at airport with 130 litres of liquid drug
Two passengers arriving from Nigeria were intercepted at Bologna's Guglielmo Marconi airport with a substantial cargo of liquid synthetic drug. The operation, conducted by financial police in co-ordination with customs officials, resulted in the seizure of more than 40 bottles containing a total of 130 litres of a substance known as Monkey Tail or "monkey's tail".
The liquid has a dark colour similar to that of a soft drink or juice. In reality, laboratory tests confirmed that it is a narcotic dissolved in alcohol. In nightclubs it is mixed into drinks. Had it been put on the market, the quantity seized could have generated an unlawful profit of more than 100,000 euros.
The two arrested men, a 50-year-old and a 30-year-old, had an intense travel history behind them. Over the past six months they had made numerous flights to Italy, often stopping at Bologna, but also reaching Milan and Rome. This anomalous movement pattern aroused the suspicions of investigators.
During baggage inspection, bottles containing the illegal liquid were found in the trolleys of the two men. The 50-year-old, believed to be the main person responsible for trafficking between Africa and Italy, was arrested. The younger man, who reportedly had a marginal role, was reported to the judiciary without arrest.
A Financial Police officer, Major Giuliano Russo, explained that the manufacture of this type of drug is becoming increasingly important for Nigerian criminal organisations, thanks also to the ease with which it can be produced: it would merely be necessary to combine leaves and alcohol and then transfer the compound into small containers. The investigation will continue to trace the production chain on the African continent and to identify the final recipients of the substance, who are likely linked to the nightlife sector.
Source: Corriere di Bologna
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)