The first degree trial against Nazzareno and Antonio Castagna, father and son originally from Rombiolo, who ended up at the center of an investigation by the Tropea Carabinieri Company into an alleged family-run drug dealing place, ended with a substantial reduction in the prosecution system. The Judge of the preliminary hearing of the Court of Vibo Valentia in fact acquitted the two accused for “non-existence of the fact” from the vast majority of the disputed episodes, ordering their immediate release.
The two were arrested on 22 April 2025. According to the reconstruction of the investigators, the Castagnas would have managed a complex heroin dealing activity in the small hamlet of Presinaci, right near their home. The prosecution initially contested over 60 episodes of sales, documented through shadowing, observation services and the use of hidden cameras which had filmed the alleged meetings with the users and the places where the drugs were hidden.
Although the Public Prosecutor had requested a severe sentence of 6 years’ imprisonment for each of the accused during the hearing on 1 April 2026, the Gup accepted the arguments of the defence, represented by the lawyer Giuseppe Bagnato.
The judge in fact acquitted the Castagnas of 54 drug dealing incidents and reclassified the few remaining sales as “minor events”. Nazzareno Castagna was sentenced to 1 year, 11 months and 20 days and Antonio Castagna to 1 year, 6 months and 20 days in prison, in addition to the payment of a fine.
Immediately after the reading of the device, the Judge revoked the measure of house arrest to which they were subjected, ordering the return to freedom for both. Only Nazzareno Castagna was required to sign