Massa Lubrense police arrest man for hiding drugs in olive tree

Carabinieri officers in Massa Lubrense arrested a 55-year-old man following an anti-drug operation in the countryside of via Pigna, near Sant’Agata sui due Golfi. The suspect, who was already known to law enforcement, was observed arriving on a scooter accompanied by a Rottweiler near a specific olive grove.

Authorities discovered that the man was using hollows in an olive tree and a water box as concealment points for drugs. A search of his smartphone revealed WhatsApp messages containing precise directions and photos to guide clients to the drop-off locations, such as instructions to look “under the tile” or near specific utility poles.

During the arrest, officers recovered a digital scale disguised as a cigarette pack. A subsequent search of the suspect's residence uncovered additional cocaine hidden inside a modified Sprite can and an empty Nutella jar.