Palermo, drug dealing in Zen: doses of cocaine in the fridge and a POS for electronic payments, a 43-year-old man arrested

The technological evolution does not spare even the world of drug trafficking. In Palermo, the Carabinieri of the San Filippo Neri Station arrested a 43-year-old man, already known to law enforcement, on charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking in narcotic substances. What was supposed to be a routine check turned into the discovery of a decidedly modern retail sales system.

During the search of the man's home, the military found almost 160 doses of cocaine, hidden inside the refrigerator and in the bedroom. In addition to the drugs and the classic precision scale used to weigh the doses, a detail emerged that surprised investigators: the presence of a portable POS. The device, according to the Carabinieri's hypothesis, could have been used to accept electronic payments from customers, thus eliminating the risks associated with handling large amounts of cash and offering a "digital" service to consumers.

Despite the possible openness to electronic payments, the military still found a substantial amount of "traditional" money in the living room of the house: 1,238 euros in cash, hidden inside a piece of furniture and believed to be proceeds from illegal activity.

The entire material, including the cocaine and packaging equipment, has been placed under seizure. The 43-year-old has been arrested and made available to the Judicial Authority. The operation once again highlights how the Zen neighborhood and surrounding areas remain under the strict observation of the law enforcement to combat drug trafficking.