A 56-year-old bricklayer from Tonara was arrested Thursday for possession and cultivation of narcotics. All it took was walking down a street in the town center to trigger a check by the Carabinieri from the Tonara station.
What gave the man away was an intense and unmistakable smell of marijuana that clearly wafted from the street, leaving little doubt as to what might be hidden inside the house.
Determined to investigate, the officers entered the building for a check, only to encounter an unexpected sight. Upon entering, the Carabinieri were surprised to find a veritable indoor growing station: a space expertly equipped with reflective sheets, fans, and special lamps, specifically designed to recreate the perfect microclimate and accelerate plant growth, all while shielding the facility from prying eyes.
The surprise continued in the sleeping area, transformed into a drug processing center: in the bedroom, large quantities of inflorescences weighing almost three kilos had been laid out to dry, alongside vacuum-packed bags, precision scales, and all the equipment needed to measure and sell the drug.
The operations then extended to a plot of land owned by the man, in the "Latzarere" area. Here, the officers located a small outdoor cultivation area, with lush stems over 1.7 meters tall, ready for harvest . The operation concluded with the seizure of over four kilograms of marijuana , the plants, and all the technical equipment used for production.
The man was arrested for possession and production of narcotics for the purpose of trafficking. On Friday, after a summary hearing, the judge confirmed the arrest without imposing any precautionary measures.