CATANIA – Since the early hours of today, on the delegation of this Public Prosecutor’s Office – District Anti-Mafia Directorate, the State Police has implemented an order for the application of a precautionary measure issued by the Judge for Preliminary Investigations at the Court of Catania against dthe 13 investigatedtheeveryone recipients of the precautionary detention measure thenctorcAndrAnd.
The suspects appear to be under serious suspicion of the crime of criminal association aimed at trafficking and dealing in narcotic substances. Furthermore, some of them are seriously suspected of the crimes of possession and illegal possession of a common clandestine firearm.
The restrictive measure, issued on the basis of investigations coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate and carried out by the Flying Squad – Anti-Drug Section of the Catania Police Headquarters, includes the results of a complex and detailed investigative activity started in June 2020.
THE INVESTIGATIONS
The investigation, supported by technical measures (telephone, environmental and electronic interceptions and video recordings), made it possible to acquire significant elements implicating a criminal association dedicated to cocaine trafficking on the Calabria-Sicily axis.
The activities were initially interesting the group led by SCILIO Carmelo, understood “get rich”, subject considered among the most well-known cocaine traffickers operating in this capital.
A large cocaine trafficking from Calabria and the investigations of the investigators were managed have made it possible to document, in just under six months, as many as 20 transports and deliveries of large quantities of narcotics which were allegedly carried out by the criminal association to numerous criminals from Catania, some of whom were believed to be linked to various mafia clans in the capital.
During the investigation, several seizures of narcotic substances (overall, 11 kg of cocaine) and weapons were carried out (seizure of a special 38 caliber revolver pistol with abraded serial number and related ammunition).
The sum of €90,300.00 was also found cash.
THE ARRESTS
For the vast and complex dynamic activities in the area aimed at tracing and capturing the recipients of the precautionary measures issued, the Flying Squad of the Catania Police Headquarters made use of the collaboration of the equivalent investigative bodies of Reggio Calabria and Syracuse and was also assisted by the Central Operational Service, acting under the direct coordination of the Central Anti-Crime Directorate of the State Police which sent several crews from the Crime Prevention Department.
Staff from the local Police Headquarters and its peripheral branches as well as specialized units of the Regional Scientific Police Cabinet were also involved.
Some of the recipients of the restrictive measure referred to in today’s anti-drug operation, already restricted for other reasons, were notified of the measure at the various institutions that host them.
Overall, for today’s Judicial Police Operation – conventionally called “Devotion” – around 100 State Police operators were employed.
More specifically, the recipients of the measure are:
- ADDAMO Joseph (born 1979);
- CIDONI Bruno (born 1974);
- GAROZZO Luigi Danilo (cl. 1993);
- GUELI Gino (born 1989);
- MANNINO Francesco (born 1987);
- PEZZANO Antonio (cl. 1992);
- RIBERA Angelo (born 1987);
- SCILIO Carmelo (born 1974);
- SIXTEEN Francis (born 1971);
- SIXTEEN Peter (born 1990);
- TORRISI Salvatore (born 1963);
- VITAL Holy (born 1964);
- ZANGARI Pasquale (born 1969).
