In the port of Ancona, the Guardia di Finanza and the Agenzia delle Dogane (Customs Agency) seized a shipment of explosive material containing 10,584,000 detonators and 314,000 rounds of ammunition. The operation, named Clean Shot, made it possible to stop an illicit transport bound for Greece and subsequently Cyprus, which was about to be loaded onto a ferry used exclusively for passenger transport. The cargo had been formally declared as “miscellaneous goods” and was due to travel along the Italy–Greece maritime route. The anomaly emerged during a complex preventive activity analysing commercial flows, which cross-checked documentary data, traffic routes, cargo volumes and risk profiles.
Further investigations subjected the transport to more thorough checks. The inspections led to the discovery of the explosive cargo, linked to two Italian companies and destined, at least according to the accompanying documentation, for Cyprus, an area considered a strategic crossroads between the Middle East and Europe. The transport was about to take place on a ferry intended exclusively for passengers, a circumstance that constitutes a violation of the regulations governing maritime safety and the handling of weapons and explosives. Current legislation stipulates that cargo of this type, due to its quantity and level of danger, cannot be loaded onto passenger ships but must be transported via dedicated land routes in compliance with strict procedures, as well as requiring specific authorisation from the Prefects.
The presence of detonators is particularly sensitive, as these devices are highly susceptible to shocks and mechanical stress. According to investigators, components of this type can be triggered accidentally in the presence of friction, violent impacts or exposure to heat sources. A potential explosion on board the vessel could have had serious consequences, putting passengers, crew members and the safety of the ship at risk. Following the inspections, the authorities ordered the seizure of the entire cargo of explosive material and the articulated lorry used for the transport. The driver has been reported for the illegal possession and transport of ammunition and explosive material, as well as for the use of a false document.
