Torre Annunziata – He was just 18 years old but ran a small drug stronghold in the heart of the historic center, in an apartment confiscated from organized crime and illegally occupied.
The State Police arrested a young man from Oplonti on charges of illegal possession of narcotics, possession of war ammunition and a common firearm, theft of electricity, and violation of security seals.
The blitz in Vico Forni
The operation began this morning, when officers from the Torre Annunziata Police Station, during an operation to combat drug dealing, raided an apartment in Vico Forni, in the heart of the city's working-class neighborhoods.
The property, confiscated years ago under anti-mafia legislation, had been illegally occupied by the young man, who had turned it into a veritable drug storage and sales hub.
Inside, the police found a package containing 40 grams of cocaine, two rounds of war ammunition and one round of common firearm.
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Drugs, money and technology
During the search, the officers also found cutting agents, precision scales, packaging materials, several cell phones, a coin counting machine, and a large sum of cash, mostly in small denomination bills—probably the proceeds of drug dealing.
Investigators also discovered that the home was illegally connected to the public electricity grid via a meter bypass, a system used to siphon off energy and power both the lighting and video surveillance systems.
The 18-year-old was arrested and taken to the Torre Annunziata Police Station for the usual formalities.
The investigation, coordinated by the Torre Annunziata Public Prosecutor's Office, is continuing to verify any possible links between the young man and local criminal groups involved in drug dealing and the management of confiscated properties.
According to investigative sources, the case confirms how some assets seized from the Camorra are sometimes reoccupied illegally, once again becoming tools of illegality.
Comments (1)
It's incredible how such a young man could handle something like this. Breaking security and stealing electricity are serious acts. We hope there will be more controls in the future to prevent similar situations.