They were dealing with illegal immigrants, weapons and diamonds. Stopped in 17

The carabineros of the information nucleus of Palermo arrested, at the disposal of the DDA, 17 persons, Italian and foreign, who transported migrants from the Balkans to Switzerland and Sicily using false employment contracts. The charge, in various ways, is that of a transnational criminal badociation dedicated to smuggling illegal immigrants on the Balkan Highway, to arms trafficking, to money laundering and valuables. Investigations have identified a link between the criminal organization and the Cosa Nostra, but also with members of the Albanian paramilitary group "Nuovo Uck", the latter aiming at the sale of weapons of war.

As early as 2016, they monitored the Macedonian Fatmir Ljatifi, suspected of trafficking in weapons, but also to recycle money from thefts and illegally market it. Thanks to targeted surveys, in collaboration with the German, Macedonian, Swiss and Kosovar authorities, it has been possible to document the illegal traffic carried out by two different groups who, by paying 3,000 euros each, took illegal immigrants to Italy. along the Balkan route. In addition, it has been established that those arrested have repeatedly committed other crimes, including the recycling of gold and diamonds for 11 million euros, but also the trafficking of Weapons in the Balkans.

in contact with the mafia of Catania, the investigators documented three meetings between Ljatifi, Giuseppe Giangrosso from Palermo and another subject included in the context of the Cosa Nostra di Atrano, but also with others belonging to the Sicilian gangs. Contacts that showed how there are links between local criminal groups and even international groups. Among the Italians also arrested the entrepreneur touched by the financial crimes Dario Vitellaro and Palermo Gabriele Torres, Salvatore Morello and Francesco Tinnirello, accused of being the counterfeiters of the organization. Criminals operated in various Italian cities, including Sondrio, Siena, Como and Pordenone. The commander of the Provincial Command of the Carabineros of Palermo, Antonio Di Stasio, spoke of "an important operational result". The operation also received applause from the Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, who in a post on Facebook "thanked the carabinieri".