Scafati– An Italian citizen, owner of three businesses, who was the subject of an investigation by the Salerno Financial Police, was convicted of selling drugs as legal products, using the cover of cannabis shops.
The Court of Nocera Inferiore handed down a sentence of 2 years and 2 months in prison, as well as a fine of 12.000 euros, confirming the charges of possession and dealing of narcotics.
The investigation, conducted by the Guardia di Finanza (Fiamme Gialle) of the Scafati Company, uncovered a deceptive sales system widespread in the Agro Nocerino Sarnese area and the Vesuvian towns. What was presented on the shelves as "light marijuana"—theoretically legal and with a low active ingredient—was actually a fully-fledged narcotic, with THC levels well above the permitted threshold of 0,6%.
The blitz and the kidnappings
The investigation began with routine checks at specialized stores, where the financial police immediately noted anomalies. The investigations escalated into a large-scale search operation involving several stores and storage facilities. The raid resulted in a significant loss: 44,7 kilograms of marijuana and numerous e-cigarette refills were seized.
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It wasn't just a matter of the active ingredient. The police found irregularities that made the products potentially dangerous to public health: supply chain certifications were missing, mandatory laboratory tests were not provided, and there were substantial discrepancies between the labeling and the actual contents of the packages. A veritable commercial "mystification," as investigators called it, to introduce drugs onto the open market.
The precautionary measure and the sentence
During the preliminary investigation, the seriousness of the evidence gathered had already led to the application of the precautionary measure of mandatory residence for one of the suspects. The legal case concluded with a summary hearing at the Court of Nocera Inferiore.
In addition to the prison sentence and fine, the judge ordered a temporary ban from practicing commercial activity and the destruction of the large quantity of seized drugs, putting an end to an illegal supply chain operating under a false name.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
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