They had left Messina to “stock up” with fireworks, but the return journey ended with a complaint for an entire family unit. Three brothers and a nephew, all from Messina, were caught with over half a ton of explosive material illegally stuffed in the trunks of their cars.
The operation began in Catania, where the agents of the Flying Squad and the Bomb Squad of the Etna Police Headquarters intercepted the four during intensified checks for the end-of-year holidays.
A family “away”.
A real family group from Messina ends up in trouble: three brothers aged 54, 52 and 49accompanied by 25 year old son of one of them. The four had arrived in the Etna capital with three different cars, probably to divide the load and be less conspicuous, but the excessive rush to set off towards the city on the Strait betrayed them.
Control and seizure
The police noticed the four men in a secluded place in the city while they were fiddling near the cars. At the sight of the uniforms, the people of Messina attempted to quickly disappear, justifying the haste with the need to “return home as soon as possible”. A nervousness that pushed the officers to search the vehicles.
Once the trunks were opened, the discovery: a string of boxes containing 500 kilos of fireworksdetained and transported without any authorization or security measures. A very dangerous load which, in the event of an accident during the motorway journey towards Messina, could have caused incalculable damage.
Report and destruction of material
None of the four people from Messina were able to show licenses for the transport of explosive material, which by law requires special and certified means. At the disposal of the Judicial Authority, the load was taken over by the bomb squad and immediately destroyed due to its high risk.
The photo was taken for the four subjects complaint on the loose. Investigations continue to ascertain whether the large quantity of barrels was intended for illegal sale on the Messina market in view of New Year’s Eve.