The Palermo Prosecutor's Office has served notice of the conclusion of its investigation on 35 individuals involved in drug and cell phone trafficking inside the Pagliarelli prison. Among those under investigation is Niko Pandetta, a neomelodic singer and nephew of the historic Catania mafia boss Turi Cappello.
The investigation, conducted by the Carabinieri and the prison police, led to the arrest on May 23 of several prison officers accused of facilitating the entry of cell phones and drugs into the prison in exchange for money.
Deputy prosecutors Daniele Sansone and Antonio Carchietti have ordered immediate trial for a dozen suspects, while the conclusions of preliminary investigations have been notified for another 35. Three people from the original group of 48 suspects are still awaiting a ruling.
Drug tariffs behind bars
The investigations uncovered a veritable price list for narcotics inside the prison. A joint was sold for the price of three packs of cigarettes, about 20 euros, while a gram of hashish cost between 100 and 150 euros. Cocaine reached staggering prices: up to 600 euros per gram.
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Cell phones also had a fixed price of 500 euros, with some traffickers reportedly managing to earn 15 euros in just a month and a half.
Violence and oppression
According to investigators' documents, inmates involved in the illicit system did not hesitate to resort to violence to enforce their rules. Those who refused to comply were subjected to beatings inside the prison.
Other suspects include Alfredo Abbate, Alessio Alario, Francesco Bertolino, Claudio Caruso, Salvatore Castiglione, known as "the dwarf," and dozens of others accused, to varying degrees, of participating in the illicit drug trafficking or facilitating it from within the Palermo penitentiary.
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Comments (1)
What's happening inside prison is deeply alarming, with people who, instead of reforming, continue to traffic drugs and cell phones. I hope the authorities take serious measures to stop this problematic situation.