Rivers of drugs coming from Calabria and the role of the "professor"

At dawn today, the State Police of Ragusa, under the coordination of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of the Catania Prosecutor's Office, executed a preventive custody order issued by the G.I.P. of the Etna Court against ten individuals: eight destined for prison and two for house arrest.

The recipients of the order are seriously suspected, in various capacities, of criminal association aimed at drug trafficking and dealing.

The operation, dubbed “Drug Parking”, is the result of a complex investigation by the Mobile Squad of Ragusa initiated in December 2023, conducted through technical activities, surveillance services, and targeted checks in the area.

From the investigations, the existence of a criminal alliance active between Comiso and Vittoria emerged, dedicated to the procurement, transport, and distribution of large quantities of cocaine and marijuana.

The group, according to the reconstruction, was regularly supplied from Calabria, in the province of Vibo Valentia, using couriers tasked with delivering the drugs to peripheral areas and commercial parking lots, carefully selected to evade potential checks.

At the top of the organization, a person nicknamed “the professor” was identified, believed to be the promoter and director of the association as well as the main contact in relations with suppliers.

The investigation also highlighted the active involvement of multiple individuals with distinct roles, including members of family units operating in the territory of Vittoria, tasked with retail dealing, hiding the drugs, and collecting illicit proceeds.

The drugs were stored in various locations available to the suspects: private homes, a car wash, and a fruit and vegetable warehouse in the Vittoria countryside.

During the activities, over 16 kilograms of cocaine were seized and several couriers were arrested, circumstances that allowed for a detailed reconstruction of the modus operandi of the group.

The illicit turnover was estimated at around 2 million euros, money used to support the affiliates and maintain the criminal structure.

At the end of the executions, the arrested individuals were transferred to various correctional facilities in the district, at the disposal of the judicial authority. One of the precautionary measures was notified to an individual already in custody.

It is specified that the proceedings are in the preliminary investigation phase and that for all the suspects, the presumption of innocence until a final judgment applies.