Ten personal precautionary measures were carried out this morning by the Messina Railway Police and the Judicial Police Section of the Prosecutor, as part of the“Iron Travel” operationconducted under the coordination of the District Anti -Mafia Directorate.
Investigations started in 2020
The investigative activity, launched in 2020 and lasted about two years, made it possible to shed light on an organization dedicated to Illegal trafficking of metal scrap between the provinces of Messina and Catania, involving four companies active in the sector of the collection and transformation of ferrous material and self -demolitions.
Already on 27 June the preventive seizures of the companies involved had been carried out: three based in Catania – Ro.Fe.Me. Srl, 4trade srl and Els srl – and one in the province of Agrigento, La Eco.ris. Srls. Now, the judge for preliminary investigations has ordered: Two precautionary cases in prison, seven house arrest and a temporary prohibition to carry out entrepreneurial activities in the waste management sector.
For companies subjected to seizure, the continuation of the activity under the management of a judicial commissioner for the duration of one year, in order to safeguard the economic operation and employment, has been authorized, although under strict control. The investigations, carried out with traditional methods and technical investigations-including interceptions, document acquisitions and kidnappings-led to configure serious indications of crime relating to a criminal association (art. 416 of the Italian Civil Code) aimed at the commission of numerous environmental crimes (art. 256 of Legislative Decree 152/2006 and art. 452-quaterdecies CP), in the period Between 2020 and 2022.
The heart of the organization, according to what emerged, would be represented precisely by the seized companies, equipped with plants for the treatment and trade of metal scrap, used to move large quantities of material in violation of environmental regulations.