The Port of Salerno Like Sinaloa: 650 Kilograms of Drugs Seized from the Memoli

In an operation that shook southern Italy, the Carabinieri of Salerno have dismantled a powerful drug cartel with international ramifications, comparable to the most dangerous Mexican criminal groups.

In a series of simultaneous raids, the Carabinieri dealt a heavy blow to the cartel, seizing over 650 kilos of pure cocaine, destined to flood the illegal markets of Campania, Basilicata and Puglia.

But not only that: during the operations, large quantities of hashish and marijuana were also seized, demonstrating the vastness of the group's criminal activities.

The criminal organization, led by Tiziano and Carmine Memoli, had established solid ties with international suppliers, importing drugs directly from producing countries. Thanks to a dense network of collaborators and impeccable logistical organization, the cartel managed to get the narcotics to Italy, eluding the authorities' controls.

The investigations, coordinated by the Salerno District Anti-Mafia Directorate, have revealed a ruthless and well-structured criminal organization, capable of corrupting public officials and infiltrating strategic sectors of the economy. The Memoli Group It was not limited to drug trafficking, but also controlled related illicit activities, such as money laundering and arms trafficking.

Here's who's arrested and under investigation

The following suspects have been reached by the precautionary prison measure issued by the preliminary investigations judge D'Agostino of the Court of Salerno:

Tiziano Memoli, 54 years old from Salerno; his son Carmine Memoli, 31 years old; and his cousin Gennaro Memoli, 28 years old. Also involved are Antonio Apicella, 57 years old, originally from Pontecagnano Faiano and resident in Salerno; Pierpaolo Cianciulli, 27 years old, born in Battipaglia and resident in Montecorvino Pugliano; Mario Cafaro, 21 years old, from Salerno; Carmine Ferrara, 61 years old, from Pomigliano d'Arco but resident in Salerno; Annamaria Gallo, 41 years old, from Salerno; Donato Garripoli, 32 years old, from Melfi; Luigi Maisto, 42 years old, born in Torre del Greco but resident in Salerno; and Alessio Stornante, 29 years old, originally from Taranto.

The following people from Salerno are under house arrest: Carmine Bisogno, 39 years old; Matteo Boccia, 46 years old; and Francesco Basso, 37 years old.

In total, there are 23 suspects and they are charged, to varying degrees, with crimes ranging from criminal association aimed at international trafficking of narcotic substances, such as cocaine, marijuana and hashish, to various crimes connected to the importation and sale of drugs.