The State Police of Imperia, together with the Regional Investigative Unit of the Penitentiary 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 variously responsible for offences committed between July 2023 and 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 chain and the sale of drugs 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 at prices higher than those on the external market. During the course of the investigation, the individuals and channels through which drugs were resold, as well as the recipients of the proceeds from the sales, were identified. A fully-fledged drug brokerage operation was taking place inside the prison, carried out primarily in the library despite the surveillance of staff present. The investigation also revealed the systematic availability of smartphones in use by inmates, who thus maintained contact with the outside world, including through social media. Searches conducted 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 proceeds, a psychologist employed at the facility and a Penitentiary Police officer on duty at the institution were also reported to the authorities, the latter accused of making false statements.
