Drug trafficking from Balkans route: 16 arrests and 90 kg of narcotics seized in Northern Italy
The Guardia di Finanza of Trieste has dismantled an Italian-Albanian criminal organisation managing drug trafficking in Northern Italy. Nearly 90 kg of narcotics and assets worth 1.1 million euros were seized.
Italian-Albanian criminal gang dismantled: Balkan drugs distributed from Milan to Adriatic coast
The Guardia di Finanza has broken up a criminal organisation managing substantial drug trafficking in Northern Italy and along the Adriatic coast: 16 arrests, 35 subjects under investigation and nearly a quintal of drugs seized. This is reported by rainews.it.
The Fiamme Gialle also seized assets and financial resources worth approximately 1.1 million euros, the proceeds of the gang's illicit activities.
The operation: from Latisana to Milan
The investigation began with a check at Latisana, with the detention of two couriers and the seizure of 2 kg of marijuana. From that initial intervention, a criminal structure progressively emerged involving numerous subjects — mainly of Albanian origin — operating in various Lombardy provinces.
The investigation was coordinated by the Financiers of the Economic-Financial Police Unit of Trieste, under the direction of the Public Prosecutor's Office of Milan — Organised Crime District Department — in collaboration with the Central Organised Crime Investigation Service of the Guardia di Finanza.
Logistics structure and distribution network
The gang had logistical structures in several Northern provinces: Brescia, Lecco, Milan, Monza Brianza, Pavia, Savona and Siena. During the summer period, drug dealing activity extended from urban centres to tourist destinations in the north-east — Sistiana, Grado, Latisana, Lignano, Bibione, Jesolo, Caorle — with sales points outside discos, pubs, seaside establishments and accommodation facilities.
The drugs — cocaine, marijuana and hashish — came from the Balkans route through collaboration between Italian criminal organisations and Albanian consortiums. The organisation had also equipped itself with its own greenhouse in Pavia province for autonomous marijuana production. Once in Italy, the narcotics were stored in a network of flats and car parks rented by subjects with no criminal record not directly traceable to the gang.
For distribution to dealers at sales points, the organisation recruited couriers termed internally "cavallini", with a strict division of tasks between those preparing doses and those distributing them on the territory. The network comprised both Italians and young Albanians with no criminal record, brought into Italy for stays of a maximum of 90 days — the limit allowed for tourists — before being replaced by other nationals with the same functions.
Professional criminals: sophisticated techniques
According to the Guardia di Finanza statement, investigators encountered "implementation methods characterised by low visibility and risk of detection". Internal communications occurred via encrypted platforms, with constant replacement of SIM cards and mobile phones. Vehicles used for the activity were also replaced continuously to avoid recognition.
Investigation techniques ranged from classical surveillance and stakeouts to audio and video environmental interceptions, extending to more technologically advanced tools.
Details of seizures
The seizures concerned 70.5 kg of marijuana — of which 64 kg at Sesto San Giovanni, 2 kg at Latisana and 4.5 kg at Lecco — and 21 kg of cocaine, of which 20 kg at Saronno and 1 kg at Milan.
The investigators also obtained a Beretta model 34 calibre 9 short pistol with abraded serial number and related ammunition, as well as an Alfa Stelvio with chassis specifically modified for drug transport. Seven people were arrested flagrante delicto.
The searches enabled the arrest flagrante delicto of a further suspect for possession of clandestine firearms and led to the seizure of 7.2 kg of marijuana already packaged for sale, two pistols with abraded serial numbers and related ammunition, ten bladed weapons, luxury watches — including Rolex models — and cash in euros and foreign currency.
Precautionary measures and asset investigations
The Organised Crime District Department of Milan obtained from the Judge for Preliminary Investigations 8 custody orders for imprisonment against the main members of the organisation. Searches were ordered against 33 suspects on various grounds: criminal association aimed at illicit drug trafficking, drug production and possession, handling of stolen goods, money laundering and possession of clandestine firearms.
In parallel, the Fiamme Gialle reconstructed illegally accumulated assets: financial flows, current accounts, property investments and bank deposits were scrutinised. The Milan Public Prosecutor's Office issued an urgent preventive seizure measure that made it possible to secure real estate, vehicles, jewellery, cash and other financial resources.
The Guardia di Finanza statement recalls that "under the principle of presumption of innocence, the guilt of persons under investigation will be definitively established only if an irrevocable sentence of conviction is handed down".
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)