Taranto, 13 arrests for drug trafficking, weapons and loan sharking in Tamburi district
The Carabinieri in Taranto have executed 13 precautionary measures against a criminal organisation involved in drug trafficking, weapons possession and usurious lending. The operation resulted in the imprisonment of Alessandro Masella, believed to be the head of the organisation.
Major anti-drug operation in Taranto
According to lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it, the Carabinieri of the Taranto Company this morning executed 13 precautionary measures against as many individuals at the conclusion of an investigation coordinated by prosecutors Milto De Nozza and Francesca Colaci of the Ionic Prosecutor's Office. The investigation dismantled a criminal association engaged in drug trafficking and dealing, possession of firearms and granting of loans at usurious rates in the Tamburi district.
According to investigators, the organisation was headed by Alessandro Masella, 45 years old, assisted by his son Nicola and his wife Pamela De Leonardo. The group operated on three dealing sites: the first on via Troilo, managed directly by Masella; the second at the recreational club "Brothers", headed by Antonio Sebastio, 27 years old; the third in the buildings of the Parcheggio Houses, where Gianluca Leggieri, 53 years old, operated. The drugs marketed included hashish, heroin and cocaine.
The Carabinieri investigation established that the association possessed an AK47 rifle and a pistol. The group also managed a flourishing loan sharking system, granting sums ranging from 150 euros to 8,000 euros at usurious interest rates, in one case as high as 213 per cent per annum.
On the order of the preliminary investigation judge Tea Verderosa, six individuals were placed in prison custody: Alessandro Masella, Nicola Masella, Gianluca Leggieri, Alessio Caracciolo, Antonio Sebastio and Cataldo Simonetti. Five individuals were instead placed under house arrest: Pamela De Leonardo, Loris Greco, Girolamo Masella, Gianluca Porcelli and Francesco Portacci.
The arrested individuals, defended amongst others by lawyers Andrea Maggio, Pasquale Blasi, Teresa Parente, Enzo Sapia and Salvatore Difonzo, must appear before the judge for the preliminary investigation hearing in the coming days, where they may present their defence and clarify their position.
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)