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Rome police dismantle international drug trafficking and kidnapping ring
Italian authorities have dismantled an international drug trafficking network following an operation coordinated by the Rome District Anti-Mafia Directorate. Nine individuals of Dominican and Colombian nationality were arrested in Rome and placed in preventive detention. The group is accused of importing large quantities of cocaine from South America to supply drug markets in Rome and the Lazio coast.
The investigation was triggered by a violent incident in June involving the kidnapping, torture, and robbery of a Colombian citizen. The victim was reportedly lured into a trap, assaulted, and held captive for seven hours in two different locations in Rome. During the ordeal, the victim was threatened with a firearm, wounded with knives, and extorted for 8,900 euros, gold jewelry, a luxury watch, and house keys.
To evade detection, the organization utilized sophisticated logistics, including automated double-bottom vehicles, encrypted telephones with remote data erasure, and cryptocurrencies for money laundering. In related actions, authorities also discovered a clandestine drug refinery in Sant’Agata del Bianco, Calabria.
Entities
Calabria · Carabinieri · Civitavecchia Carabinieri Company · Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia · Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia di Roma · Lazio · Rome · Rome District Anti-Mafia Directorate · Rome District Antimafia Directorate · Rome Mobile Squad · Squadra Mobile di Roma
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] A clandestine drug refinery was discovered in Calabria linked to the group. maguacadigital.com · baraondanews.it
- [● 14 SOURCES] The criminal network is accused of kidnapping, torturing, and robbing a Colombian citizen. dominicanaaldia.com · maguacadigital.com · baraondanews.it · n.com.do · risoluto.it · +6 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] Nine people of Dominican and Colombian nationality were arrested in Rome. dominicanaaldia.com · maguacadigital.com · baraondanews.it · n.com.do · risoluto.it · +6 more
- [DISPUTED] A Rome judge ordered preventive detention for all nine suspects. dominicanaaldia.com · maguacadigital.com · n.com.do · montecristi24horas.com · opiniondelpueblo.com · +5 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] The group imported large quantities of cocaine from South America to supply Rome and the Lazio coast. dominicanaaldia.com · maguacadigital.com · baraondanews.it · n.com.do · montecristi24horas.com · +6 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The organization used automated double-bottom vehicles and cryptocurrencies for money laundering. dominicanaaldia.com · maguacadigital.com · n.com.do · montecristi24horas.com · opiniondelpueblo.com · +5 more
- [● 13 SOURCES] The victim was held for seven hours and extorted for 8,900 euros, jewelry, and a luxury watch. dominicanaaldia.com · maguacadigital.com · n.com.do · risoluto.it · www.terzobinario.it · +5 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Authorities discovered a clandestine drug refinery in Sant’Agata del Bianco, Calabria. maguacadigital.com · baraondanews.it · dominicanaaldia.com · opiniondelpueblo.com · www.eje21.com.co