The policemen of the Crotone police station, of the Service for International Police Cooperation and of the Fiumicino Airport Border Police Office, have carried out an order for the application of precautionary custody in prison against an Iraqi investigated as the promoter and leader of a Turkish cell of a criminal association aimed at aiding and abetting illegal immigration and money laundering.
The precautionary measure was issued by the investigating judge of the Court of Catanzaro at the request of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of the same city following an investigative activity carried out by the mobile team of the Crotone Police Headquarters and the Central Operational Service, as part of the operation called «Karonte», an investigation which led to the arrest of 29 people suspected of belonging to a transnational association which allegedly favored illegal immigration from Türkiye to Calabrian and Sicilian coasts, as well as the laundering of profits from the same illicit activity.
The man, who escaped during the operation, was tracked down in the United Arab Emirates and was extradited to Italy thanks to the collaboration of the International Police Cooperation Service with the local authorities. The investigations would have made it possible to outline the role of the arrested person, as a promoter and with a top role of the organization with the task of managing the flow of money proceeds from criminal activities through various agencies based in Turkey, moving the money through the Money Transfer and Hawala system.
The man, recipient of prison measures, was recognized by many migrants and considered a man of power, owner of the travel agencies where payments were made to make the illegal crossings and reach the Italian State. In the next few days he will be made available to the judicial authorities to answer for the alleged crimes.