Italy arrests 380 in crackdown on youth crime; 1,100 reported

Of those arrested, 283 young people are adults and 22 are minors

Rome.- Some 380 young people have been arrested and another 1,100 reported in Italy in an operation against "the first rung" of criminality, accused of various crimes such as drug sales, possession of weapons or hate speech on social media.

The Police has coordinated this major operation throughout Italy against "young people mainly dedicated, in groups or individually, to crimes against persons, property or relations with drugs or weapons, as well as to illicit behaviors that lead to cases of discrimination or hatred", according to a statement from the force.

Specifically, the string of crimes ranges from attempted homicide or extortion to robbery, hold-up, drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons or the so-called hate crimes on social media.

Thus, 283 adults have been arrested and 22 minors for crimes against persons and property or drug trafficking, while 81 people have been placed in pre-trial detention or house arrest, some of them wanted at European level. On the other hand, a total of 1,110 adults (613 Italians and 497 foreigners) and 180 minors have been reported for drugs and weapons possession.

Drugs and stolen items seized

In the operation, agents have seized 19 kilos of cocaine, one of heroin and 79 of cannabis, among other substances, and have searched 829 properties, of which 58 were unaccompanied foreign minors centers. In addition, a large number of weapons have been seized, such as two rifles, 36 pistols and high-caliber ammunition, as well as 89 knives and two katanas. The police have also managed to recover "numerous" stolen objects such as gold necklaces, jewelry, watches, mobile phones, and also counterfeit bills, identity documents and even a fake Guardia di Finanza badge, a body for fiscal and border crimes. The accused acted in groups or alone and in some cases were linked to the so-called 'maranza', youth gangs.

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The Police have explained that this phenomenon of juvenile delinquency "strongly" affects the perception of security of the rest of the citizens and has found a great loudspeaker on social media, which constitutes a "first step" into the world of criminality. In this regard, 1,300 profiles on social media have been monitored and 5 have been reported to the judicial authorities for inciting hatred and physical violence, also against the police. In the statement, the arrest in the Sicilian city of Trapani (south) of two young people on a motorcycle is cited as an example, who were found with one hundred grams of cocaine, 90 grams of hashish and 1,300 euros in cash.