Potenza. The Neapolitan Camorra manages the drug dealing areas by entrusting them to a group of Nigerians, asylum seekers: this is the disturbing background discovered by the Carabinieri of Potenza in an investigation coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Basilicata. The Potenza prosecutor's office speaks of an 'alarming synergy'. This morning, in the operation 'Level', 13 Nigerian citizens were arrested - asylum seekers hosted in reception centers in the Potenza area accused of having organized a "frenetic drug dealing activity" of heroin, hashish and marijuana - purchased in Naples - in the historic center of Potenza. The Carabinieri also carried out eight residence bans in the capital of Basilicata, against both Italians and Nigerians. 120 Carabinieri and a helicopter from the Pontecagnano-Faiano (Salerno) unit of the Arma took part in the operation, called "Level". The investigations, coordinated by the Potenza District Anti-Mafia Directorate, began in October 2017. The Carabinieri established that at the top of the clan was a Nigerian citizen, Samuel Dumkwu, who, thanks to his “position of supremacy”, ensured “a continuous supply of narcotics to the Potenza drug dealing area”, where the drugs were then sold: according to the prosecution, he acted with “typically entrepreneurial criteria”, detectable from the “precise division of tasks assigned to his compatriots”. The drugs were bought in Naples and this confirmed 'the alarming synergy between foreign crime and that operating in the Neapolitan area'. The dealing took place in the historic centre of Potenza, which the clan controlled in a “monopolistic” way.
-Overall, the Carabinieri executed 13 precautionary custody orders in prison and 8 residence bans. Those arrested are Nigerian citizens seeking asylum, hosted in extraordinary assistance centers in the province of Potenza, while the residence ban affected both Nigerians and Italians. The investigations were started in 2007 and would have brought to light a "frantic" heroin and cocaine dealing activity in the historic center of the Lucanian capital by those arrested. One of those arrested, Samuel Dumkwu, would have played a key role in the organization. The drugs sold were collected in Naples, thanks to contacts between Neapolitan and foreign criminals, and placed in Potenza. The organization dismantled by the Carabinieri had strict rules regarding the division of tasks and the assignment of hierarchies. 120 soldiers from the provincial command of the Arma di Potenza participated in the execution of the measures.
Article published on November 27, 2018 - 10:44
