The information given by a grandmother, hoping to save her grandson from drugs, helped the police to dismantle a mafia drug trafficking network in Calabria, in southern Italy, became known today by the authorities.
Eighteen people suspected of involvement in the Muto-linked drug trafficking ring in the Chetraro area have been arrested in connection with the operation.
Muto is one of the many families that are part of Dragetta, the Calabrian mafia, which is considered one of the most powerful in the world and whose main activity is drug trafficking.
"The grandmother turned to the carabinieri to ask them to save her grandson," Piero Sutera, police chief in Cosenza, Calabria, told reporters today.
The disbanded criminal organization was also involved in "protection" against money and blackmailing businessmen in the tourism sector. One of them had asked the police for help.
"These people have suffered from the arrogance of these criminals who demanded money from them," anti-mafia prosecutor Nicola Grateri told the Gazzetta del Sud.