Fentanyl theft in Rome: 80 vials stolen from hospital in Magliana district
Dozens of vials of a powerful opioid have been stolen from a hospital in the Italian capital. The government has convened an emergency meeting.
Fentanyl theft in Rome: 80 vials stolen from hospital in Magliana district
In the Magliana district of the Italian capital, healthcare staff reported the disappearance of 80 vials containing fentanyl, a high-potency opioid painkiller. Authorities believe that the product, which was being stored inside a safe, was removed in order to be put into illegal drug trafficking.
This synthetic substance is among the most dangerous in circulation: even minimal quantities can prove lethal. Following the report of the theft, the government responded by urgently convening a meeting at the office of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
According to reports by Il Messaggero and relayed by the Ansa agency, employees of the facility informed law enforcement of the discovery of the empty safe. Carabinieri who arrived at the scene found no signs of forced entry on the armoured container. The access key was in the possession of multiple healthcare workers.
An extraordinary meeting was held at Palazzo Chigi with the heads of the healthcare sector. During the meeting it emerged that the stolen vials could potentially yield approximately twenty thousand doses of street drugs. Participants expressed serious alarm at the negligence demonstrated by those responsible for safeguarding the medication, despite strict protocols in place.
Investigations were launched simultaneously by multiple agencies: the carabinieri and inspection services are reconstructing the circumstances of the incident, the Health Ministry has ordered a thorough inspection at the facility, whilst the judiciary has opened a file for aggravated theft and possession for the purpose of trafficking.
Source: Delo