Italy’s Guardia di Finanza, working with the financial police in Catanzaro and the central crime service in Rome, executed arrest orders for 25 people accused of transporting marijuana from Albania to Italy.[1] Investigators linked the network to about five tonnes of marijuana, and three of those arrested were described as group leaders.[1]
Among the detainees were Roco Anello, described as a Philadelphia boss, and Francesco Fiare of San Gregorio, known as “the doctor”.[1] A report reproducing the Calabrian daily Il Quotidiano del Sud says powerful ‘Ndrangheta clans of the Vibo Valentia area had gone into business directly with Albanian producers, cutting out intermediaries.[2]
Francesco Paladino was sought under a jail order while his brother Antonio received house arrest, and their father Salvatore was already under investigation in the earlier anti-drug operation codenamed Stammer.[1] The published list of 25 names includes three Albanians, Idrit Buja, Elvis Hajdini and Shefik Muho, alongside suspects from Mileto, Vibo Marina, Brindisi, Milan, Rome and Catania.[1]
