Italian police arrest 384, seize 1.4 tons of drugs in nationwide crackdown

Authorities detained 384 suspects, investigated hundreds more and confiscated drugs, firearms and illegal cannabis products in coordinated raids across multiple provinces.

Reuters

21 December 2025 at 11:54:22

Italian police arrest 384, seize 1.4 tons of drugs in nationwide crackdown

FILE PHOTO: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a Mercosur summit meeting, as regional leaders discuss rising tensions over Venezuela and warn against foreign military intervention.

Reuters

MILAN - Italian police said on Saturday they had arrested 384 people and seized 1.4 tonnes of drugs in a large-scale operation against drug trafficking.

In addition to the arrests, officers had put under investigation 655 individuals, including 39 minors, and confiscated 35 kg of cocaine and more than 40 firearms, police said in a statement.

The operation, concluded on Friday in several provinces, led to the temporary closure of five cannabis shops in three cities after 312 inspections.

During the checks, the police said they had seized 296 kg of cannabis products which initial tests had shown to be illegal drugs.

Italy in June approved a security decree banning so-called "legal" cannabis and outlawing the trade of "cannabis light", or hemp, which unlike marijuana has no psychoactive effects.

Sara Rossi/Reuters