For the first time in the history of Italy, the judicial authorities have arrested employees of a unit of the carabinieri. It happened in Piacenza, where, according to the city attorney, the personnel formed a criminal organization. In relation to two dozen military barracks Levante launched an investigation. In the list of crimes that they are charged with the sale of drugs, abuse of official position, disclosure of official secrets, unlawful arrest, fraud, and violence.Today, remaining in the service of the carabinieri division Levante Italian town of Piacenza are forced to work in parked near the entrance to their former office’s signature black van. Their barracks is closed and sealed by bailiffs, who lead the investigation against 22 soldiers of this unit. Ten of them were arrested. They are charged with participation in drug trafficking and sale of drugs, and in addition, abuse of official position, disclosure of official secrets, illegal arrests, violence, fraud, infliction of harm to the state. In connection with the investigation and arrested the suspects account, and Villa with swimming pool, purchased, as suggested by the investigators on proceeds of crime funds.The prosecution relies on the investigation that over the past six months conducted by the local police and the financial guard.”I find it hard to call them police, because they behave like real criminals,”— said at a press conference, the Prosecutor Piacenza GRATSIA Pradella. According to her information, starting in 2017 on the base of the barracks of the carabinieri acted in a “criminal gang on the type of Gomorrah” was the title of a popular drama series based on the eponymous novel by the famous fighter mafia writer Roberto Saviano about the Naples mafia organization, the Camorra. As was announced at the same press conference, in telephone conversations the bandits-police even referred to this movie. So, the head of a gang Sergeant Giuseppe Montella, citing the series as an example, explained to the members how they should act. As it turned out, the conversations were wiretapped by investigators.Photo: a frame from the video Guardia di finanzaВ the investigation also revealed that they have seized drugs, the police were again put into circulation, via their proxies related to professional traffickers. According to the investigation, particularly active carabinieri-shifters have developed under conditions of strict quarantine measures, when such a cover is particularly highly prized by the drug trade due to the abundance of police checks on the roads. It is on this fact back in April, drew the attention of the correspondent of “Kommersant” himself, Roberto Saviano, describing the actions of drug traffickers during the coronavirus. In conversation with “Kommersant” the writer then said that the criminal structures are somehow “will prevail.” In Piacenza, according to the investigation, they got out just with the help of the police issuing them to the smooth movement of the skip with departmental seals. This has caused special indignation in the media: “while millions of Italians were locked up, the police are handing out permits to the bandits.” The investigators got photos, and record of drinking and orgies, which were held in the barracks and testified prevailed in the barracks of the customs. The gang operated fearlessly. “We will never reveal,” claimed Sergeant Montella, alluding to its existing patrons.It is not surprising that the news about the arrest of members of criminal group instantly generated a huge response and many questions. First of all, to the leadership of the carabinieri. “How could it happen that the band of the carabinieri, acting in the spirit of Gomorrah, acquired such power?” — outraged and the Prosecutor Pradella. The question is all the more true that Piacenza is a small town, where it is difficult to hide. In absentia defensively, the commander of the provincial Directorate of the carabinieri Massimo Savo (by the way, his office is located a few kilometers from the ill-fated barracks) stated that for him the arrest of the colleagues became a “bombshell”. And the commander of the corps of the carabinieri (Italy is one of the divisions of the armed forces), General Giovanni Nistri, according to media reports, was furious and demanded to immediately investigate the activities of the gang.Helen Pushkarskaya, Rome
