From Rome drugs to the drug dealing squares of central Italy, organization dismantled

A pyramid system

As part of a pyramid structure, the three leaders at the top of the association coordinated eight other people, who were in turn responsible for managing the deposits and paid a monthly salary of around 8 thousand euros. At the base of the pyramid itself there were more or less occasional couriers, whose pay varied from 500 to 800 euros per month, depending on the distance to be covered. The logistical geography of storage essentially gravitated in the capital, around bases located between the Aurelio, Tuscolano, Pineta Sacchetti and Boccea districts.

Messaging platforms

The information flow between the members of the association had been organized by the three leaders through a not very well-known messaging application. The negotiation phase with customers was, however, entrusted to the most common instant messaging platforms. The entire direction of the chats was then managed by a "boss", who, behind the screen, moved using a nickname borrowed from English. Finally, as regards deliveries, the supply chain was entrusted to two small cars modified with a sophisticated mechanism, operated with a precise and complex combination of on-board controls, which gave access to a double bottom, the capacity of which varied from 8 to 10 kg of hashish. The same concealment system was also used for the deposit of the sum of money received once the consignment had been delivered.

Attempting to circumvent controls

In an attempt to organize "clean" trips, the organization had planned movements during the day, in the idea of being able to bypass the controls more easily. In terms of the proposal, then, the organization specialized in the marketing of hashish, offered in the various variants found on the European market at low cost, so as to guarantee an attractive price for end customers. To intercept a wider audience of buyers, the catalog of the proposal itself also varied for cocaine. The service guarantee was ensured even in the event of the arrest of one of the couriers or in the face of impromptu needs of the customer, which in any case were fulfilled even on weekends with a greater number of requests.

Twenty-two suspects

The circumstantial framework collected against the 22 suspects by the State Police, coordinated by the magistrates of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, resulted in an order with which the Judge for Preliminary Investigations ordered the precautionary custody in prison for 8 people - including the three leaders of the organization and five other associates. Another member of the group was, however, hit by the precautionary measure of house arrest. During the execution, a quantity of 1.3 kg of hashish was found in his possession, which led to the immediate aggravation of the measure with that in prison. During recent searches, approximately 187 thousand euros in cash were seized. All the people involved in the investigation must answer for association with the aim of illicit trafficking of narcotic substances.