On the morning of May 28, the carabinieri of the Tricarico Company, supported by the territorial weapon and by the Carabinieri Cacciatori Squadron of Puglia, by delegation of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Foggia, carried out a vast judicial police operation. The activity concerned numerous searches conducted at the same time at 22 farms located in Puglia, Campania and Calabriawith the aim of finding means and equipment of illegal origin, subsequently re -registrationed and then marketed.
The investigations, started independently by the carabinieri of the Tricarico Company in January 2024, and subsequently coordinated by the Prosecutor of Foggia, highlighted the existence of an articulated illicit system based on the theft and receiving agricultural vehicles, or the proceeds of scams also online. Already in July 2024, the investigations had led to the seizure of as many as 27 vehicles (20 tractors, 2 trucks, 2 cars, a carriagers and 2 agricultural trailers), stolen in the provinces of Campobasso, Matera, Padua and Foggia. Following this operation, the investigative insights focused on the means and on the seized material, as well as on the people investigated, including an employee of the MCTC of Foggia, which would have facilitated the re -entering operations of the means of illegal origin.
Today’s provision revealed the existence of a real Parallel and illegal market of agricultural vehicles, operating in various territorial realities of the South and fueled by systematic illicit practices.
The operation was conducted simultaneously in the different regions involving about 100 carabinieri as well as the “Puglia hunters” helipped squadron, elite department of the weapon established in 2018 and composed of highly specialized soldiers suitable for operating in the most impervious and difficult areas of the territory.
The action led to recovery of further 25 vehicles including 15 tractors, 3 trucks, 3 agricultural trailers, 3 operating machines and a vanfor a total value estimated at around 1,350,000 eurosto testify and confirm of the commitment of the weapon to protect the agricultural sector. The investigations continue to define the different responsibilities of the suspects.