“Full Service” operation, the suspects under house arrest before the investigating judge

BRINDISI – After the suspects ended up in prison after the “Full Service” operation, it is the turn of those under house arrest. The warrant interrogations of 40-year-old Giovanni Greco, from San Pietro Vernotico, and 55-year-old Elisabetta Balsamo, from Brindisi were held this morning, Monday 29 April 2024, before the investigating judge of the Brindisi court Vilma Gilli. The raid by the carabinieri of the San Pietro Vernotico station – led by commander Vincenzo Corianò -, as part of an anti-drug investigation coordinated by prosecutor Pierpaolo Montinaro of the Brindisi prosecutor’s office, began on Monday 22 April. Judge Gilli had signed a precautionary custody order against five people. Balsamo is assisted by the lawyer Cinzia Cavallo, while Greco is assisted by her colleague Luigi D’Arpe. Both defended themselves.

The meetings for the “invoices”

The narcotic substance, according to what was reconstructed by the military, would have been hidden in the counter niche of a tire shop. From there, after a personal or telephone agreement, the doses would be collected by the buyers. More than 20 (alleged) drug supply incidents have been reconstructed. The investigations made use of wiretaps, both environmental and telephone. As can be seen from reading the ordinance, it was believed that an appointment to deliver “invoices” or similar concealed something different than mere accounting. In some cases, in fact, it became clear to investigators that the brief and fleeting meetings between suspects and buyers were accompanied by the exchange of small packages. In other cases it was the customers who directly collected the narcotic.

The hiding places of the narcotic

Mainly, the concealment of the hashish and cocaine would have required the use of a large tractor tire, placed close to the fence of the workshop and other places: some tiles, a tree and a public lighting pole. As mentioned, when the manual sale would not have been possible, the buyers – as well as customers of the workshop – would have taken what they had purchased directly from some hiding places. Returning to the guarantee interrogations, on Tuesday 23 April it was the turn of the suspects confined in prison: the brothers Michele Frassanito, 46 ​​years old, and Monica Frassanito, 41 years old, both residents of San Pietro Vernotico, defended by the lawyer Raffaele Lomartire, and the 34 year old Emanuele Pierri, also from San Pietro Vernotico, defended by Francesco Cascione, defended themselves.

The defense of the suspects under house arrest

The Frassanito brothers admitted their responsibilities. Their lawyer has filed a request for mitigation of the precautionary measure. A similar request was also presented by Emanuele Pierri’s defender. Today, as mentioned, it was Balsamo’s turn. The woman, assisted by the lawyer Cinzia Cavallo, defended herself and explained that the cocaine was for personal use. The lawyer Cavallo presented a request for revocation of the measure. After the possible “green light” from the prosecutor, the word will therefore pass to the investigating judge. Also today, it was finally Greco’s turn, assisted by the lawyer Luigi D’Arpe. Greco also responded and defended himself from the protests, explaining that he is not a drug dealer. Lawyer D’Arpe also presented a request for revocation or replacement of the precautionary measure.