 |
| Packages allegedly containing cocaine seized by the Italian police |
The Italian police have targeted a joint Albanian-Italian criminal drug trafficking group, resulting in 15 arrests with imprisonment. The police operations were carried out in Bari and Brindisi, and assets worth approximately 1 million euros belonging to the group members were seized, local media reports.
The suspects are accused of illegal trafficking of narcotic substances, production, trafficking, and illegal possession of drugs, money laundering, and unauthorized possession of firearms. Among those arrested is a 30-year-old Albanian, Klisman Curraj, who was identified by the Italian media.
The investigations were conducted through the use of not only judicial police activities such as wiretaps and phone data analysis but also the examination of messages exchanged on the encrypted platform "Sky Ecc."
The starting point for the investigation, led by the Antimafia Directorate of the District, was the arrest made in France on October 26, 2019, of a 47-year-old man from Torre Canne, Massimo Duca, who was arrested with 75 kilograms of cocaine destined for Italy and 865,000 euros.
According to Italian media, the network organized transportation mainly by land using modified cars, as was the case in the episode in France. In total, during the operation, 127 kilograms of cocaine and 142 kilograms of cannabis were seized, along with 1.3 million euros.
The arrested individuals are:
Riccardo Campanale, 61 years old, born and residing in Andria.
Klisman Curraj, 30 years old, born in Albania, but residing in Molfetta.
Maurizio D’Azzeo, 50 years old, born and residing in Bisceglie.
Massimo Duca, 47 years old, born in Messina, and residing in Torre Canne (Fasano).
Dorian Dushkaj, 33 years old, born in Albania, and residing in Cesano Maderno (Monza).
Riccardo Falcetta, 37 years old, born and residing in Andria.
Massimiliano Galasso, 48 years old, born in Martina Franca, and residing in Fasano.
Francesco Lopetuso, 27 years old, born in Foggia, and residing in Andria.
Vito Patruno, 64 years old, born in Andria, and residing in Trani.
Leonardo Salerno, 38 years old, born and residing in Fasano.
Vito Onofrio Salerno, 60 years old, born in Monopoli, residing in Fasano.
Michele Sgaramella, 43 years old, born and residing in Andria.
Savino Sgaramella, 73 years old, born and residing in Andria.
A foreign national and a Spanish citizen.
These individuals were arrested by the Italian police.