Pink Coke, sex drug , Molly: catchy names to win over more customers, especially young people , and attract them to the illegal market of synthetic drugs. Substances that are a must during the Cagliari nightlife, often purchased on the dark web or through encrypted messaging applications, to complicate the investigations of the police. The prices are not excessive, and therefore accessible to many, complete the picture of a worrying phenomenon because, as the provincial commander of the Carabinieri of Cagliari, Luigi Grasso, explains, «behind every pill there is a young person who risks getting lost». And unfortunately, as the head of the Flying Squad, Davide Carboni, underlines, synthetic drugs «are becoming increasingly widespread in the nights of fun of the very young» even in "pirate", illegal parties.
Seizures of these substances are increasing and therefore the numbers from the Carabinieri and the Police confirm the concerns of doctors and nurses ("Rescue for poisoning is increasing") and experts from mental health centers ("The first time drug use can occur even at 11 or 12 years old").
The phenomenon
In the last two years, the Carabinieri of the provincial command have seized something like 12 tons of narcotics, arresting 86 people: results achieved thanks to structured investigations and control activities on the territory. And there has been particular attention on synthetic drugs that has allowed them to intercept, between 2023 and 2025, ten kilos of ketamine, over 300 pills and 33 grams of MDMA, 101 pills and 114 grams of powdered methamphetamine, 45 grams of "pink cocaine" but also "2C-B", a new generation psychoactive molecule. The investigative work has allowed us to shed light on a market defined as "extremely fluid and insidious".
The traffics
Drugs are presented as new and trendy , and are therefore perceived as less dangerous. Purchases often take place on the dark web: the substances are then hidden in food, cosmetic or supplement packaging sent to collection points. "Communications between sellers and buyers are often managed through increasingly technologically efficient communications via encrypted communication platforms," explains General Grasso. The seizures carried out by the Carabinieri - in particular those of the provincial investigative unit - confirm the presence of a large and structured demand for this type of substance. And home-made laboratories for the processing of ketamine have also been discovered . A market increasingly directed towards nightlife venues, illegal parties and raves. "We are talking about a sophisticated network," explains Grasso, "in which drugs became part of the evening, an integrated element in the promotion of the event. A criminal model that directly targets young people, attracted by the promise of a "controllable" transgression, which instead turns into a dangerous addiction with very serious consequences for health."
Repression, with investigations, seizures, arrests and reports, works. The numbers testify to the effectiveness of the investigative action. But it is not enough. " For this reason", underlines the provincial commander of the Arma, "we have started a specific training course for our youngest soldiers: we want them to be able to talk to the kids in the most direct and understandable way possible, to listen and read the problems, so as to be able to intervene before it is too late. In short, the Arma is present in the territory not only to repress, but to prevent. The battle against drugs is not won only with seizures but by building trust, sharing and an integrated network of institutions and subjects of the territory under the coordination of the prefect".
The investigations
The Police also has significant numbers with 141 kilos of narcotics seized in the last twelve months (46 kilos of cocaine, which remains the most sought-after substance in the Cagliari area). And since the beginning of the year, 100 grams of synthetic drugs and 500 milliliters of GBL, the date rape drug, have been recovered. "The synthetic substances," explains Carboni, director of the Flying Squad involved in various investigations into drug trafficking, "are linked to nightlife. MDMA, also called Molly, ketamine, LSD are in circulation. And we also seized GBL, the date rape drug: it is poured into cocktails and lowers your defenses. You feel light and you practically don't remember anything of what happens after having used it, sometimes even unknowingly." All the substances are not very widespread but they circulate in clubs and at illegal parties with minors also because they are low cost. The most widespread drug remains cocaine: "It is dealt by Albanian and Calabrian criminal organizations, it is more easily available and now has lower prices than in the past". The dealers now use the technique of micro doses: "The pushers have a few sachets on them to try to avoid arrest". Carboni also highlights: "Above all synthetic drugs, purchasable on the dark web, have devastating effects on consumers".
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