Campobasso’s Squadra Mobile, the provincial detective unit of the State Police, stopped a car carrying two men in Ferrazzano, in the province of Campobasso, Molise.[1][2] The driver was a young man of Abruzzo origin who had lived in the province for years and had a prior drug record; his passenger was a Tunisian citizen.[3]

Police said the driver was carrying 12 grams of cocaine the passenger had just handed him.[1] Officers also found about 5,000 euros in cash on the two men.[3][2] Searches of their homes in Montagano and Ferrazzano turned up about 60 grams of hashish and 10 grams of marijuana.[1] The same searches found material for packaging and preparing doses for sale.[3]

The two men, aged 23 and 52, were arrested in the act on charges of dealing and possessing drugs for sale.[1] On the order of the Campobasso prosecutor’s office, one man was taken to the provincial prison and the other placed under house arrest pending a decision by the judicial authority.[3][2] The police statement says the Campobasso prosecutor’s case is still at the preliminary investigation stage and that guilt will be finally established only at trial, under the presumption of innocence.[1]