Italian authorities have arrested three Albanians, aged 22, 23 and 25, accused of trafficking in large quantities of narcotics.
The operation took place near Crespellano, at the end of an investigation focused on the control of a van with Albanian license plates coming from Spain. Italian media write that the investigation began as an information and investigative activity to monitor people suspected of drug trafficking and distribution.
The Carabinieri organized a special surveillance and tracking service to intercept a van with Albanian license plates, which, according to information collected, was transporting a large load of drugs from Spain to the province of Bologna.
After monitoring the entire motorway network, officers identified the vehicle near the motorway exits in Valsamoggia, pursued it and then blocked it in Crespellano.
The three people on board, who spoke Italian with difficulty, immediately showed signs of nervousness during the search. During the search of the van, five packages of cocaine weighing a total of over 5 kilograms were found. According to authorities, the drugs, once sold at retail, would bring in around 500 thousand euros in profits.
During the search of the three arrested, 6,430 euros in cash, divided into banknotes of various denominations, were also found. The three Albanians, all of whom had no permanent residence in Italy, were arrested in flagrante delicto and sent to prison pending an arrest assessment hearing before the preliminary investigation judge.