Seized clandestine arsenal and over 15 kg of drugs, DNA links the suspect

In recent days, on behalf of the Prosecutor's Office of Messina, the State Police executed a preventive measure application order issued by the Preliminary Investigating Judge of the Court of Messina against a 41-year-old man from Messina, under investigation for the crimes of possession and trafficking of narcotic substances, as well as illegal possession of clandestine firearms.

The precautionary measure is part of a broader investigative activity coordinated by the Prosecutor's Office and carried out by the Police Headquarters of Messina in April 2024. In this context, during specific anti-drug operations, personnel from the Mobile Squad conducted a home search of the suspect, extending the activity to the related condominium premises.

As a result of the judicial police operations, a blank-firing pistol with a handmade modified barrel, a caliber 22 pistol without a serial number, approximately 100 grams of cocaine, and 300 grams of hashish were found and seized. Since it was not possible to definitively attribute the ownership of the seized material to the suspect at that time, he was referred in a state of freedom to the Judicial Authority for the crimes of possession for the purpose of drug trafficking and illegal possession of a clandestine firearm.

Subsequent technical investigations carried out by the Scientific Police, aimed at identifying the genetic profile of the suspect, revealed the presence of the suspect's DNA on the seized weapons and on the material found in the basements of the building.

On the same day the precautionary measure was executed, personnel from the Mobile Squad conducted another search of the suspect's residence, extending it to the related basement, finding and seizing an additional 10 grams of cocaine, a handmade modified semi-automatic pistol, a caliber 38 Special revolver with an obliterated serial number, an antique muzzle-loading pistol without a serial number, as well as ammunition of various calibers.

Furthermore, approximately 15 kilograms of marijuana were found within the condominium premises; investigations regarding this additional discovery are still ongoing, delegated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Messina to the Mobile Squad, aimed at identifying the responsible parties and determining the ownership of the seized substance.