On 23 May 2024, the Carabinieri of the Cerignola Company executed two separate Cautionary Custody Orders, issued by the investigating judge of the Court of Foggia at the request of the local Public Prosecutor’s Office, against a total of 20 under investigation (of which 11 recipients of precautionary custody in prison, 4 of the House arrest And 5 of the residence ban), held responsible in various capacities for possession for the purpose of dealing drugs in competition qualified by the AG pursuant to art. 73 Presidential Decree 309/1990. The restrictive measures originate from the Carabinieri’s investigative maneuver aimed at breaking down the main drug dealing activities in Cerignano, which were subjected to continuous monitoring from November 2022 to June 2023.
The first investigative activity – started in November 2022 and concluded in January 2023 – made it possible to document how the 6 under investigation – all recipients of Precautionary Custody in Prison – operated in such a way as to offer a real “drug supermarket” in a place in the city centre. In response to the evidence that emerged, already during the investigations – during which over 1,300 sales of narcotics were documented (with an average of 35 per day) – 1 person was arrested in flagrante delicto for illicit possession for the purpose of selling the substance narcotic and 7 users were reported to the local Prefecture, and over 100 grams of hashish, cocaine and marijuana were seized. The second investigative activity – started in January 2023 – made it possible to collect elements of criminality against 14 suspects (all Italians, of whom 5 recipients of prison, 4 of the House arrest And 5 of the residence ban). The Carabinieri, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Foggia, ascertained the methods of purchase, transport and retail sale of narcotics, carried out in the Cerignola hinterland and in other neighboring provinces, also documenting the sale of narcotics between some suspects, who, although autonomous, they would thus have managed to guarantee a constant availability of narcotics.
Furthermore, the setting up of two drug dealing points was found, respectively at the residence of a suspect under house arrest and at an apartment located close to the city centre, where 24-hour operations would have been guaranteed. Two other suspects would have, according to the information gathered by the military personnel, carried out home and made-to-order sales. In confirmation of the evidence that has emerged, already during the investigations 6 people have been arrested in flagrante delicto for possession for the purpose of trafficking of narcotic substances, 8 have been referred to police for the same crime and 3 drug users have been reported to the local Prefecture, while a total of approximately 2 kg of hashish, cocaine and marijuana were seized, as well as approximately 1,500 euros in cash considered proceeds of drug dealing. The proceedings are in the preliminary investigation phase and the suspects, whose position is being examined by the Judicial Authority, cannot be considered guilty until a final conviction has been pronounced.
