Salerno, drugs also in prison: 39 arrests. The drug dealing ring is run by the incarcerated boss.

Salerno - Drug deliveries right into prison, orders given by the boss over the phone, and even the use of a drone to deliver the "goods" behind bars. This is the scenario that emerged from the anti-drug operation conducted by the Eboli Financial Police, coordinated by the Salerno District Anti-Mafia Directorate, which this morning led to the arrest of 39 people, charged with various counts of criminal conspiracy for the purpose of drug trafficking and numerous drug dealing incidents.

The raid, which began at dawn, involved over 150 members of the Guardia di Finanza (Fiamme Gialle) in various locations in the Salerno area. Eighteen people were arrested, and twenty-one were placed under house arrest. Twenty-nine men and ten women were arrested, at the center of a drug dealing network that, according to investigators, had its headquarters in the Paterno district of Eboli, but also had ramifications in several neighboring municipalities.

Coded language and the drug dealing center in Eboli

The drugs, in the encrypted language used by the affiliates, had code names:

hashish was called “sheet”,

cocaine became “service”,

the crack was the “cooked”.

Behind those words, intercepted during months of investigations, lay a constant flow of trafficking and deliveries. Investigators reconstructed over sixty drug dealing incidents, with a widespread network operating at all hours of the day.

Two buildings in the Paterno neighborhood served as drug warehouses, later reduced to one after a user attempted theft. The group, investigators explain, operated with clearly defined roles and had access to weapons, while a local club became a regular meeting point for planning operations.

The boss who managed the traffic from prison

At the top of the organization, identified by investigators as the head of the association, was the boss Mario Ruggero, who had already been arrested during the investigation, but who continued to give orders from the prison in Ariano Irpino (Avellino).
According to Salerno's deputy prosecutor, Rocco Alfano, the inmate "managed the deliveries both inside and outside the prison, maintaining control of the group even from behind bars."

Investigators have documented incidents of drugs being smuggled into the prison via drone, as well as an attempt by a prison employee, who was arrested red-handed while trying to smuggle drugs and handsets.

Kidnappings, money and the role of women

During the investigation, the Guardia di Finanza seized €104 in cash, while another €41 was found today in the possession of several suspects. A taser was also recovered.

Of particular note, investigators emphasize, was the role of women: no longer secondary figures, but actual substitutes for their arrested companions.
“No longer alongside, but in place of their men,” explained General Luigi Carbone, provincial commander of the Salerno Guardia di Finanza. “When the bosses were hit by precautionary measures, they were the ones who managed the drug dealing area and contacts with suppliers.”

“Drugs are the ATM of illegality”

During the press conference, Prosecutor Alfano emphasized that drug trafficking remains an inexhaustible source of income for criminal organizations.

“These organizations,” he declared, “turn drugs into a sort of cash machine for illegality, especially to the detriment of young people.”

The investigation, which lasted about a year and was conducted between 2022 and 2023, once again confirmed that the drug market in the Salerno area is far from marginal, with consolidated ties to suppliers in the Naples area and a level of organization typical of structured criminal organizations.

Persons subject to precautionary measures in prison:

1. RUGGIERO Mario, born in Eboli (SA) on 19.08.1991
2. BARRA Giovanni, born in Battipaglia (SA) on 14.10.1990
3. RUGGIERO Luigi, born in Eboli (SA) on 26.12.1966
4. RUGGIERO Daniele, born in Eboli (SA) on 10.10.1974
5. DI PAOLA Gianluca, born in Massa di Somma (NA) on 23.09.1988
6. CASILLO Gianluigi, born in Castellammare di Stabia (NA) on 01.07.1991
7. SPAGNUOLO Raffaele, born in Battipaglia (SA) on 15.03.2004
8. DE VIVA Luigi, born in Salerno on 20.07.1971
9. TAVASCIO Salvatore, born in Naples on 05.07.1976
10. LIGUORI Fabrizio, born in Naples on 27.06.2001
11. PENZA Giovanni, born in Eboli (SA) on 15.07.1974
12. STROLLO Vincenzo, born in Battipaglia (SA) on 19.09.1984
13. VOTTA Vito, born in Battipaglia (SA) on 26.11.1988
14. CIANCIO Vincenzo, born in Eboli (SA) on 19.01.1972
15. Cosimo PIGGY, born in Eboli (SA) on 20.02.1975
16. ESPOSITO Mario, born in Angri on 05.06.1967
17. MORELLI Fiore, born in Eboli (SA) on 16.10.1980
18. CALONICO Matteo, born in Salerno on 21.12.1976

Persons subject to the precautionary measure of house arrest:

1. MOCCALDI Carmine, born in Eboli (SA) on 24.01.1985
2. MASTROGIOVANNI Armando, born in Salerno on 09.10.1990
3. 4. 5. 7. 8. DI CONZA Josephine born in Atripalda (AV) on 21.10.2000
DI CUNZOLO Valentina, born in Eboli (SA) on 19.07.1997
DE VIVA Dennys, born in Mercato San Severino (SA) on 05.02.2003
6. PENZA Katiuscia, born in Battipaglia (SA) on 17.09.1997
GIRAULO Michela, born in Eboli (SA) on 22.12.1945
BENNICI Fabio, born in Eboli (SA) on 04.08.1990
9. BENNICI Francesco, born in Eboli (SA) on 03.08.1989
10. CIARDO Annamaria, born in Eboli (SA) on 10.12.1991
11. IORIO Anna, born in Eboli (SA) on 20.10.1982
12. CALIENDO Patrizia, born in Eboli (SA) on 08.04.1982
13. MILANESE Immacolata, born in Eboli (SA) on 24.01.1995
14. ALBANO Daniele, born in Eboli (SA) on 20.12.1984
15. CORRADO Alessio, born in Eboli (SA) on 02.10.2004
16. Orazio IMPARATO, born in Battipaglia (SA) on 21.11.1995
17. CARRAFIELLO Armando, born in Eboli (SA) on 10.04.1987
18. PAOLINO Gerardo, born in Potenza on 01.09.1988
19. ZUCARO Maria, born in Naples on 27.04.1958
20. D'AIUTOLO Teresa Patrizia, born in Pontecagnano Faiano (SA) on 03.10.1960
21. FORTINO Carmine, born in Nocera Inferiore on 17.07.1992