The police, coordinated by the Oristano Public Prosecutor's Office, have charged a man residing in the province with possession of narcotics with intent to distribute and receiving stolen archaeological artifacts. The investigation, conducted by Section IV of the Flying Squad, uncovered a well-structured illegal activity, possibly linked to youth drug use.
According to investigators, the man, who had no criminal record and was considered above suspicion, had been monitored for days through stakeouts in areas considered at risk.
The investigations allowed us to document suspicious movements, which led to the decision to carry out house and personal searches.
During the operation, the police seized approximately 35 grams of cocaine, 200 grams of hashish, and 100 grams of marijuana, as well as precision scales and tools used to package the doses.
The operation, however, yielded an unexpected surprise. Inside the home, hidden in a storage room intended for gardening tools, the officers found archaeological artifacts of likely great value: two Roman-era amphorae and a small Nuragic bronze statuette depicting an archer. The objects may have come from clandestine excavations or from illicit trafficking of cultural goods linked to the drug trade.
Experts from the Superintendency of Cultural Heritage of Cagliari are now verifying the authenticity and provenance of the artifacts. If confirmed, it would be further evidence of a widespread and profitable illicit trade, intertwining drugs and archaeological heritage.
(Unioneonline/Fr. Me.)