Carabinieri arrested a 22-year-old man after finding him with a large quantity of hashish during a night check on Via Ardeatina.[1] He was accused of detenzione ai fini di spaccio di sostanze stupefacenti, possession of drugs with intent to deal.[2] Patrol officers pulled over his small car because they considered the way he was driving suspicious.[1] The arrest was made by the Radiomobile unit of the Anzio Carabinieri company, part of the Lazio Carabinieri Legion, during a territorial-control operation at Tor San Lorenzo.[2]

A search of the vehicle uncovered 30 grams of hashish, an electronic precision scale, dose-packaging material and 145 euros in cash.[1][2] Investigators treated the cash as possible proceeds of drug dealing.[1] Officers then searched his home, having hypothesised that the car was a base for a wider dealing operation.[1] In his bedroom they found and seized another 470 grams of hashish, divided into 10 blocks.[1][2] The two seizures totalled about 500 grams of hashish.[1]

After the operation, officers transferred the young man to the Casa Circondariale di Velletri, the Velletri prison, at the disposal of the competent judicial authority.[1] The proceedings were at the preliminary-investigation stage, and the suspect was to be presumed innocent unless finally convicted.[1]