Graziano Mesina, end of the inaction: arrested in Desulo. "He slept dressed and had 6 thousand euros with him"

The carabinieri never stopped looking for Graziano Mesina, setting up checkpoints, carrying out searches not only in Orgosolo, but throughout the Nuorese area and also beyond the borders of the province. And it was right there, in Desulo, that the former fugitive was hiding in the house of a couple now under investigation for aiding and abetting.

Mesina, 79, did not resist and was handcuffed. He is now in the Nuoro prison of Badu 'e Carros. He was alone in the apartment, he was not armed and was found in possession of 6 thousand euros. "This aspect is significant because the disbursement of the minimum pension of 500 euros per month had been suspended", explained the military during the press conference held in the provincial headquarters in via Nuoro in Cagliari, so he was ready to move from that place. Not only that: he was also dressed and gave the impression of having slept wearing his clothes. "As an expert fugitive he knew how to move and not be easily captured".

Since it had become unavailable, in July 2020 , a task force with various skills had been created, including men from the Ros, the Nuoro anti-crime, the provincial command and the stations of the various territories, with also the soldiers of the Abbasanta squadron . A strategic choice that “proved to be a winner”.

PREPARATION - The decisive acceleration in the course of the investigations came from some "dissonant elements that allowed us to circumscribe the intervention area on which a considerable effort by the military has concentrated, with prolonged observation services". It should be noted that Desulo has been practically isolated in recent weeks due to snowfalls and blackouts due to bad weather, and the former fugitive had been seen two days earlier in the village, later also noticed inside the house.

And.

THE BLITZ - The operation began at 2.30 am and ended during the night. “In the first phase of acquisition and intervention there was no window that opened, a light did not come on, but it was a silent activity only in making contact and then decided in the executive phase. None of the neighbors looked out to understand what was happening. This says a lot about the context ”, was the comment of the carabinieri expressed during the meeting with the press. Yet "the apartment is located in a large residential context, there is a common courtyard". The blitz ended during the night with the arrest of the spouses, who are not relatives of Mesina, for whom the validation hearing will be held on the same day at the Oristano court. "From the citizens, in recent months, there has been no report even confidential", the carabinieri stressed.

DETAILS - The couple, in their 50s, took care of everything: from the basic needs for assistance to Grazianeddu to everything else. The house is a small town house, in the Issiria district, built not organically and there are no cadastral plans, there are rooms with floors connected by very steep stairs. A three-level building (including a cellar), made to accommodate several families. After the raid - rumors speak of the use of explosives to blow up the front door - Mesina was surprised on the first floor, there was a stove, blankets, the windows were closed, he had no mobile phones. The spouses, apparently a family of shepherds, were in second place. When he was declared under arrest he did not say anything, "he made a face of whoever knew what he was going to meet", the rest remained silent.

THE GENERAL - The compliments for the completed operation also arrived from the general commander of the Arma, Teo Luzi, addressed to all the components of the ROS, the Provincial Command of Nuoro, the GIS and the Sardinian Hunters Squadron. “Today's arrest - the general specified - was only possible thanks to your ability to work synergistically, making full use of your respective skills. With your professionalism and your example, you make me and all the Carabinieri who carry out their work every day, with equal seriousness and passion, full of pride. Well done ".

THE GOVERNMENT - "I congratulate the carabinieri del Ros, of the Gis, of the provincial command of the carabinieri of Nuoro and the helicopter-led squadron Cacciatori di Sardegna for the brilliant night operation that put an end to Graziano Mesina's inaction", is the note issued by Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini, who added: "My thoughts of gratitude, together with that of all citizens, also go to the Carabinieri of the Operational Unit of the Giugliano Company in Campania who also arrested Daniele Pinto last night." Campania, affiliated with the Ciccarelli clan - Sautto di Caivano was wanted since 2012.

Congratulations to the police also from other exponents of the Draghi government, such as Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio: "I express my satisfaction with the arrest of Graziano Mesina, a fugitive from 2020 and arrested overnight in Nuoro thanks to the operation of the Carabinieri del Ros, in collaboration with the staff of the GIS, the Provincial Command of Nuoro and the helipad squadron of the Sardinian Hunters ".

And the Minister of the Interior Luciana Lamorgese: "Congratulations to the investigators of the Carabinieri who, last night, arrested Graziano Mesina, included in the list of fugitives of maximum danger '". "It was - adds the owner of the Interior Ministry - a long and articulated operation on the territory that once again shows the ability, professionalism and dedication of our police forces".

TO ORGOSOLO - "The arrest of Graziano Mesina was greeted with indifference by the community, after all even when those who came from outside welcomed him as a hero, the country treated him like all people who return from prison", is the comment Pasquale Mereu, mayor of Orgosolo, Mesina's town of origin.

"The last time he came out of the Nuorese penitentiary he had changed, he lived the life of a pensioner and had lost that youthful boldness. He always regrets when you start a fugitive - added Mereu - also because the country after years of tranquility had been put to fire and fire from the police who were looking for him and certainly the quiet people did not like it ".

The news of the capture spread quickly among the villagers. "Graziano the last time he returned to the village he had good relations with everyone, he had aged and calmed down and did not behave badly. Unfortunately there was a new hiding and there were no good things for the country", says Francesco Corraine , retired. "His was an unfortunate life - echoes Francesco Floris - and the faults are paid even in seniority".

(Unioneonline / ss)