Naples police arrest man for selling salt as cocaine to tourist

A 36-year-old man has been arrested in the historic center of Naples after allegedly selling common table salt to a German tourist under the guise of cocaine.

Carabinieri officers on undercover patrol observed the suspicious transaction in a busy nightlife district. The tourist paid 40 euros for a small bag of white powder, which police immediately tested on-site. The rapid test confirmed the substance was merely salt.

Because the substance was not an illegal narcotic, authorities have opened an investigation into the suspect for commercial fraud rather than drug trafficking.