Avellino – Carabinieri raided Alta Irpinia on the morning of Thursday, March 12, 2026: five people were arrested on charges of illegal possession and carrying of firearms, receiving stolen goods, and modifying illegal weapons.
The investigating judge of the Avellino Court has ordered the pre-trial detention of four suspects and house arrest for the fifth. The measures—carried out by the military of the Compagnia di Sant'Angelo dei Lombardi—follow an investigation that began with the discovery of a sawed-off shotgun, modified after it had been stolen.
The searches, concentrated in the municipalities of Lioni, Villamaina, Paternopoli, and Gesualdo, led to the discovery and seizure of a veritable arsenal: two rifles also stolen, a pistol with its serial number erased (and thus rendered unrecognizable), numerous cartridges of various calibers, and various firearm components.
Those arrested are all young residents of the area: a 20-year-old and a 28-year-old from Lioni, a 34-year-old from Villamaina, a 33-year-old from Paternopoli, and a 22-year-old from Gesualdo.
According to investigators, the five were connected to each other and illegally held the weapons either in their possession or in their respective homes. The operation once again highlights the presence of illicit weapons trafficking in the Irpinia hinterland, often linked to previous thefts and subsequent modifications to make them clandestine and ready for use.
Investigations are continuing to verify any further links to other predatory crimes or to the use of weapons in criminal contexts.
It doesn't surprise me; the story seems to be the same as usual, and perhaps there are new details. The investigation must continue because other names and stolen and modified weapons often crop up. We hope the court will clarify the situation and the community will feel safer, but it will take time and stricter controls.