State police in Matera arrested a 48-year-old Matera man in the act, holding him responsible for dealing and possessing drugs for dealing.[1] Officers had seen two men enter the garage of the 48-year-old’s home during the operation.[1] One of the two left shortly afterwards by car but was followed and intercepted by a Squadra Mobile officer.[1] That man was found with a 0.6-gram dose of cocaine said to have been bought just before.[1]

Investigators then went into the garage and caught the 48-year-old with a packet containing 77 grams of cocaine.[2] A later search of the tavern room and the flat found further drugs hidden in different rooms.[1] In the flat’s bathroom cabinets officers found another 19.2 grams of cocaine in various containers, some already wrapped in small packets called cipollotti, plus a jar with 0.8 grams of cocaine and two pieces of hashish totalling 9.6 grams.[1] Officers also seized two precision scales, cutting and packaging material and 3,265 euros in cash treated as likely dealing proceeds.[1] Police described the overall result as almost 100 grams of cocaine, 9.6 grams of hashish, over 3,000 euros in cash and dose-packaging material from a Squadra Mobile operation against dealing in the north of the city.[1]

The 48-year-old was taken to Matera district prison at the disposal of the judicial authority.[1] After a validation hearing he was placed under house arrest with an electronic bracelet.[2] The man found with the 0.6-gram dose was instead reported to the prefect in administrative proceedings for personal possession.[1]