Poggioreale, another 20 cell phones seized in three buildings

Naples – Twenty latest-generation cell phones were seized by the Penitentiary Police at the Poggioreale prison in Naples. The phones were found during searches conducted in three different prison buildings: Salerno, Milan, and Florence.

The Union of Penitentiary Police Unions announced the seizure. The incident follows repeated discoveries of cell phones, drugs, and other prohibited items inside the Naples prison.

Checks in the departments

The devices were discovered during checks on staff on duty. No further details have been released at this time regarding how the phones were brought into the facility or any measures taken against the inmates involved.

The discovery brings back to the forefront the issue of unauthorized communications from prison units, considered a sensitive issue for internal security and potential contact with the outside world.

The USPP: "A sign of professionalism"

For the national president of the USPP, Giuseppe Moretti, and the Campania regional secretary, Ciro Auricchio, the seizure represents "yet another demonstration of the professionalism, determination, and sense of duty of the Penitentiary Police," committed to ensuring safety and legality under difficult operating conditions.

"Every seized phone is an illicit channel taken away from criminals," the two union representatives emphasize. "It means cutting off communications with the outside world and preventing potential criminal activity. It also means reaffirming state control within prisons."

"Poggioreale is short 200 officers"

While praising the staff, the union also raised concerns about staffing shortages and the need for more effective technological tools. According to the USPP, Poggioreale is short about 200 officers.

Moretti and Auricchio call for investments to intercept cell phones and drones, which are increasingly being identified as potential vectors for smuggling illicit material. "The dedication of officers cannot replace state investment," they state, finally acknowledging the prison staff who work daily.

Seizures and critical issues

The new seizure comes after a series of incidents recorded in Campania penitentiaries between June and the first days of August:

June, Poggioreale: According to the figures released by the USPP on July 11, in June alone, 76 cell phones were seized, six drones intercepted, and approximately 2,5 kilos of hashish were recovered.
July 23, Poggioreale: the seizure of another eleven cell phones has been reported in the Naples prison.
July 29, Secondigliano: The Penitentiary Police seized cell phones, some of which were apparently hidden in the men's underwear.
August 2, Poggioreale: A drone managed to deliver 600 grams of hashish to a cell before officers intervened; during the searches, a second quantity of 400 grams was also found in another cell.
August 3, Benevento: About thirty inmates from the medium-security unit vandalized a section; the disturbances subsided in the evening after negotiators and support staff intervened.
August 4, Avellino: During the seizure of two smartphones containing phone cards, three Penitentiary Police officers were injured in an assault, according to local press reports.

The situation remains marked by structural conditions and overcrowding: after a visit on July 29, the Criminal Chamber of Naples reported hygienic and structural deficiencies in some of the Poggioreale wards and management difficulties related to the prison population exceeding the capacity of the institution.