International drug trafficking routes also ran through the province of Mantua, where traffickers had established a logistics base. It was located in Roncoferraro, inside a warehouse used to store large quantities of hashish and marijuana destined for subsequent distribution across Italy and other European markets. The depot was made available by a local craftsman who was allegedly aware of the illegal use of the premises.
The operation, launched on 20 January 2026 by the Polizia di Stato of Reggio Emilia (State Police) and codenamed Sturl One, dismantled a criminal structure of Albanian origin, rooted in Italy and with branches in several European countries. The investigation led to the execution of pre-trial detention orders issued by the Gip of the Tribunale di Bologna (preliminary investigating judge of the Bologna court), at the request of the Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia (District Anti-Mafia Directorate). Nine individuals were targeted by the measure, accused of belonging to a criminal association aimed at drug trafficking, out of a total of fifteen suspects.
Investigators reconstructed a structured supply chain managing the import, storage and distribution of large volumes of drugs through a well-established logistics network. A central role was played by the so-called Iberian route. Shipments of around 1,000 kilograms of marijuana and more than 100 kilograms of hashish allegedly departed from Spain and were transported by road to the Roncoferraro warehouse. The facility served as a temporary accumulation point before onward distribution to other markets.
The investigation had an international dimension, with coordinated investigative activities and operations also carried out in France, Spain and Albania. In this context, the role of a Spanish haulage driver emerged. He had already been convicted by a final ruling for two previous drug importations and was involved in transporting the loads. For internal communications, the organisation used dedicated phones equipped with the encrypted Skyecc platform, devices costing several thousand euros and designed to guarantee high levels of confidentiality. Analysis of these communications enabled investigators to map the group’s operations, which over a six-month period allegedly managed to move more than 200 kilograms of cocaine and around 1,000 kilograms in total of hashish and marijuana. Estimated illicit proceeds exceed one million euros.
