The State Police of Imperia, together with the Regional Investigative Unit of the Prison Police of Turin, coordinated by deputy prosecutor Matteo Gobbi of the Imperia Public Prosecutor's Office, has served 100 notices of conclusion of investigations on an equal number of individuals responsible, at various levels, for crimes committed in the period from July 2023 to July of the following year.
The investigation, which originated from the discovery of narcotic substances destined for inmates at the Valle Armea Detention Centre, made it possible to reconstruct the supply and drug sales chain operating within the prison. Investigators pieced together the complex system through which Italian and foreign inmates, in collaboration with people outside the prison, obtained narcotic substances that were then resold within the facility itself at prices higher than those on the external market.
During the course of the investigation, the individuals and channels through which drugs were resold were identified, as were the recipients of the proceeds from the sales. Inside the prison, a fully-fledged drug brokering operation was taking place, conducted primarily in the library despite the surveillance of staff present. The investigation also revealed the systematic availability of smartphones used by inmates, who thus maintained contact with the outside world, including through social media. Searches carried out inside the prison led to the seizure of drugs, mobile phones and rudimentary weapons. At the conclusion of the investigation, in addition to the usual external accomplices, supply channels, various drug couriers and recipients of the money, a psychologist employed at the facility and a Prison Police officer on duty there were also reported to the authorities, the latter accused of making false statements.
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