An apparently insignificant detail such as the bodywork of a car completely covered in mud triggered an inspection that turned into a judicial police operation. This is what happened along State Road 18, in the direction of Rosarno, where the Carabinieri of the Gioia Tauro station released a local man, held responsible for the crime of carrying weapons or objects capable of offending, into freedom.
The episode is part of the constant strengthening of local control services, aimed at preventing crimes and ensuring road traffic safety. During an ordinary patrol service, the military personnel noticed the vehicle, whose evident presence of mud suggested that it had recently traveled through rural and inaccessible areas, a circumstance deemed worthy of further investigation.
The checks on the driver and the suspicious clothing
Two men were traveling in the car. During the checks, the attention of the Carabinieri was attracted by the clothing of the driver, who was wearing a high visibility technical suit, typically used for hunting activities. The justifications provided, however, were not confirmed in subsequent investigations: from the checks carried out through the databases used by the patrols it emerged that the man was not in possession of any authorization for the possession or use of weapons.
The search: a knife and 3,500 euros in cash were found
The suspicion that potentially dangerous objects could be hidden inside the vehicle prompted the military to carry out a search. The activity was successful: a foldable metal knife with a sharp, pointed blade was found inside a shoulder bag, available to the passenger.
During the same inspection, the sum of 3,500 euros in cash was also found, kept in the same bag and subjected to further checks to verify its real origin. The knife was immediately seized.
The Army’s commitment to territorial security
The intervention is part of the daily control activities of the territory carried out by the Carabinieri, to safeguard legality and protect the safety of the community.