Another hard blow to international drug trafficking. The Guardia di Finanza soldiers have executed a custodial order in prison against 14 people between Italy and Colombia.
These are in addition to 7 others already arrested in flagrante delicto, following investigations conducted by the Guardia di Finanza of Trieste, with the guidance and coordination of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of the Julian capital, which led to the seizure of over 7 quintals of cocaine.
The investigators targeted the Ejercito de Liberation National (ELN), a revolutionary paramilitary group from the South American country, whose criminal interests in the drug market touch the United States and reach as far as Europe. Thanks to the consolidated collaboration with the Judicial Authority and the Colombian Police, together with the US Agency Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Spanish Guardia Civil, in addition to the cartel's emissaries, several criminal purchasing groups were identified, of French and Moroccan origin as well as those linked to important 'ndrangheta and Camorra groups, operating in Lombardy, Campania and Calabria.
The use of undercover agents has proven to be fundamental. There are 15 "controlled deliveries" carried out in the first months of this year by the financial police, in perfect synergy with the Judicial Authority, thanks to which, in addition to identifying brokers and wholesalers now affected by the precautionary measure, transporters and supporters of a proven sorting system on the territory have also been arrested.
In addition to the drugs, whose purchase value for the organizations is around 15 and a half million euros and which on the final market would have yielded between 70 and 80 million, 700 thousand euros in cash and 8 vehicles were also seized.
Cocaine Seizure, 80 Million in Revenue Stolen from Criminals
An amount that the traffickers could have obtained once the 717 kilos of pure cocaine, originating from Colombia and seized by law enforcement, had been cut.
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The precautionary measures, 14 executed today, concern, among others, 4 people already in prison and 5 Colombian citizens, for whom a European arrest warrant has been issued; extradition procedures will also be activated.
Four criminal groups in Italy were hit by the operation
Four criminal groups have been identified in Italy: "A French group with dual French-Moroccan passports," explained Colonel Leonardo Erre, commander of the Italian Finance Police (PEF) unit in Trieste. "A group from Campania, with a person believed to be related to the Mazzarella clan; a Calabrian group, individuals who, according to trial evidence, have already been convicted of criminal association because they were members of the Siderno clan's 'ndrine; and a Swiss group, for which only the Colombian mediator has been identified so far."
As part of the operation, which began last December with the seizure of the drugs in Colombia, three months of drug deliveries were documented. Undercover agents performed a logistical role: they stored the drugs and delivered them. In exchange for their "interference," they demanded money, equivalent to approximately 10% of the value of the merchandise.
Hence the €700 seized and made available to the State. The port of Trieste played a key role in this operation, used as "a decoy," explained Chief Prosecutor Antonio De Nicolo, "to convince Colombian dealers to use this destination." However, the drugs then arrived by plane and were seized. In general, De Nicolo added, the port of Trieste attracts a lot of legal trafficking, but "also illicit trafficking, and it must be monitored."
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