Anti-drug and anti-decay operation in San Berillo and San Cristoforo: drug dealer arrested, five charges for utility theft
The State Police conducted intensive checks in the Catania districts of San Berillo and San Cristoforo: one arrest for drug dealing, five charges for theft of electricity and water.
Raids in Catania districts: drug dealer arrested, electricity and water theft, and unauthorised structures removed
According to questure.poliziadistato.it, the State Police conducted a coordinated anti-decay operation in the San Berillo and San Cristoforo districts of Catania, as part of a specific plan drawn up by the Police Headquarters to combat widespread illegal activity and incivility.
The operation involved the rapid-response squad and canine unit of the General Prevention and Public Assistance Office, officers from the Administrative and Social Police Division, the "Eastern Sicily" Crime Prevention Unit, the Forestry Corps and the Local Police. Technical staff and workers from the electricity distribution companies and municipal water service supported the law enforcement forces.
Anti-drug action in San Berillo: doses seized, 35 individuals identified
In the first phase of the operation, police officers intervened in San Berillo to combat drug dealing. The activity made it possible to seise several doses of narcotics hidden in the walls of lava stone in the district's narrow streets.
On Via Carro, near active building sites for an urban regeneration project, 35 individuals were identified, many of them foreign nationals, found loitering in the area. Three of them did not produce documents and were taken to police offices for identification. One was found to be illegally present on Italian territory: procedures were initiated with the Immigration Office of Police Headquarters for the execution of the Prefect of Catania's measure and the Police Chief's expulsion order. A precautionary measure was executed against another foreign national.
In parallel with judicial activity, action was requested from the Gema company for an extraordinary street-cleaning operation in the district.
Drug dealer arrested in San Cristoforo
Checks then moved to San Cristoforo, where an anti-drug operation led to the arrest of a 27-year-old man for possession of narcotics for the purpose of dealing, with the presumption of innocence maintained until final conviction. He had hashish, marijuana and cocaine in his home. The hiding place was identified thanks to the State Police's drug-detection dogs.
Five charges for theft of electricity and water
A specific phase of checks in San Cristoforo concerned the prevention of utility theft. Specialist technicians from the respective companies found anomalies in the systems of three families, who had modified their supplies to draw electricity at no cost. In two other cases, unauthorised water extraction was established. In total, three people were charged with theft of electricity and two with theft of water, with the presumption of innocence maintained for those under investigation.
Vehicles seized, unauthorised structures removed, unlicensed gaming hall discovered
Thanks to collaboration with the Local Police, dozens of vehicles without insurance cover were seized. Some, already subject to previous seizure, were destined for confiscation.
On Via Della Concordia, officers identified two unauthorised structures installed on public land without any permission, used for flower sales. The intervention of a Catania municipal team was requested for their removal and demolition.
The Forestry Corps sanctioned two unlicensed street vendors with the seizure of 500 kilogrammes of fruit and vegetable products lacking traceability documentation, necessary to verify their origin.
Officers from the Administrative and Social Police Division identified an unlicensed gaming hall on Via Mulino a Vento and sanctioned the owners of two other commercial establishments for unauthorised occupation of public land and for installations lacking municipal authorisation.
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)