The vast operation against drug trafficking began at dawn by the Messina State Police, engaged in the execution of a precautionary custody order issued by the Messina investigating magistrate, at the request of the local Public Prosecutor’s Office – DDA, against 15 subjects (12 in prison and 3 under house arrest) held responsible, in various capacities, for the crimes of criminal association aimed at the possession and trafficking of narcotic substances, retail sale of cocaine, hashish and marijuana.
The names
In prison: Caponata Rosario (1984); Cariolo Mario (1989); Costa Francesco (1965); Crisari Davide (1997); Crupi Alessio (1998); Guerrini Antonino (1976); Guerrini Samuele Salvatore (2002); The Simone Rose (1983); Longo Luigi (1958); Paone Francesco (1958); Simona Rizzo (1989); Santoro Angelo (1961).
Under house arrest: Piccolo Samuele (1998); Polimeni Roberto (1995); Romeo Gaetano (1989).
For the police operations coordinated by the Messina Flying Squad, approximately 100 agents are employed, including personnel from the Flying Squads of Catania and Syracuse, the SISCOs of Catania and Messina, the Crime Prevention Departments and the Dog Units of the State Police.
An investigation taken in 2022
The investigations, started in April 2022, following the red-handed arrest of one of the group’s suppliers during a cocaine delivery, made it possible to reconstruct the existence of a structured criminal organization permanently dedicated to supplying the market of the city of Messina and the entire province.
Roles and tasks of an armed organization
Between traditional investigative techniques – in particular stalking and stalking – and video surveillance activities, we have managed to trace the operation of the association including the division of roles and tasks within a stable, organized and continuous criminal programme, as well as armed, suitable for exercising effective control of the reference territory.
The boss, the son and contacts with Calabrians and Catania
Numerous episodes of supply and sale of narcotic substances have been reconstructed, carried out under the constant supervision of the person believed to be the chief promoter, who would have participated directly in the main operations of the group, such as contacts with suppliers from Calabria and Catania, the organization of marketing activities and the management of the related proceeds, making use of the collaboration of his son. The investigations also revealed a distribution network which saw the suspects operating as wholesalers, with sales aimed at both individual consumers and retail dealers, who in turn placed the drugs on the market.
The logistics were the responsibility of the Cep mafia
The custody and movement of the narcotic substances to places of temporary storage were entrusted to prominent individuals in Messina’s organized crime, some of whom were former justice collaborators, belonging to the historic CEP clan. The investigations also made it possible to ascertain the criminal influence and recognition that the leader of the association enjoyed among the inhabitants of the neighborhood and in the city’s criminal circles.
They covered their mouths and spoke in each other’s ears
The investigative activity also proved to be particularly articulated and complex, due to the operational methods of the criminal organization, characterized by extreme caution and prudence, aimed at evading any interception activities: on numerous occasions, documented by video surveillance, the suspects, in fact, were filmed while communicating with each other, covering their mouths with their hands or speaking in a low voice in their ears. Similar precautions were also adopted by the head of the association during meetings at his home.
Already 20 arrests and various seizures
During the investigative activities, Flying Squad personnel proceeded, at separate times, to arrest twenty subjects in flagrante delicto for possession for the purpose of dealing drugs, seizing a total of approximately twelve kilograms of drugs, eight pistols, two rifles, ammunition of various calibers, as well as the sum of €45,000 in cash, believed to be the proceeds of the illicit activity.
At the same time as the tracing and arrest operations carried out by the Flying Squad, with the support of the personnel of the Public Security Commissioners of the Messina Police Headquarters, of the Flying Squads of Catania and Syracuse, of the SISCO of Catania and Messina, of crews of the Crime Prevention Department and of the canine units of the State Police, numerous house searches were carried out on other subjects investigated in the same proceeding.