MINISTERO DELL’INTERNO DIPARTIMENTO DELLA PUBBLICA SICUREZZA PREFACE The 36th edition of the DCSA Annual Report has become a traditional event and a long- established statistical analysis, offering a useful contribution to the investigative strategies and, more in general, a series of data concerning the law enforcement activities. All the operators of social, information and drug prevention sectors can easily consult it in the electronic version, which was already experimented last year. The effective counter-narcotic activities at national and international level and the preventive measures taken within our territory have resulted in 22,000 operations as well as in numerous administrative sanctions, as provided for by the Italian legislation in case of drug possession for personal use. Moreover, in 2012, more than 50 tonnes of drugs were seized and almost 35,000 persons were reported to the Judicial Authority. In this framework, the Direzione Centrale per i Servizi Antidroga has coordinated the most significant drug operations, often involving the foreign counterparts, also through its 20 Law Enforcement Attachés, stationed in the major drug source and transit countries. Furthermore, thanks to DCSA coordination 668 investigative matches have been identified. Our agency has also supported the local operational units with high- tech electronic devices and specialized staff so to achieve positive results. Unfortunately, notwithstanding the above-mentioned effective counter-narcotic efforts, our domestic market - like those in other Countries - has continued to represent the most lucrative business for drug traffickers’ organizations. In addition, the law enforcement agencies have also to face another increasingly alarming threat represented by the online sale of numerous types of drugs. The chemical substances have won the psychological resistance of many young people who wrongly believe that these drugs are less dangerous than others, thus becoming easy prey for an illicit market, trying to fulfil the wish for attention and for socialization, typical of this age group. Moreover, since the Tables of controlled substances have to be constantly updated by the Ministry of Health, smart drugs traffickers try to take advantage of the time gaps, rapidly offering synthetic substances which are always different in their chemical compounds but have similar psychoactive principles. Moreover, the manufacture of new drugs, the search for alternative international trafficking routes, the entry of emerging Countries to the main consumption markets are all driving forces of transnational crime. In addition, in order to have a complete overview of this phenomenon, further drug-related problems must be taken into account: drug profits laundering with the consequent “contamination” of legal commercial and financial markets, economic resources to devote to prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers. Last but not least mention must be made of the high price paid in terms of human lives following car accidents due to drug intoxication. All these independent variables affect economy in different ways. Also for this reasons DCSA promotes and participates in international initiatives focused i n di c e on the prevention and fight against drug trafficking, in particular in the Mediterranean and in the Balkan areas, which are still major criminal markets and crossroads for illicit trades. Finally, the Annual Report is also a vehicle for a better knowledge of the drug phenomenon which may be used both by law enforcement operators and by civil society so to be fully aware of this terrible scourge and combine all efforts towards a common goal, as indicated by the Holy Father Pope Francis during last Urbi et Orbi Easter message “Peace to the whole world, torn apart by violence linked to drug trafficking…”. This is a heavy task, involving all public and private institutions dealing with drug prevention or supply reduction and all having a common target: the firm resolution to strengthen actions against this global threat as well as the strong determination not to abandon vulnerable people living in difficult conditions because of drug abuse. The Director Andrea De Gennaro CONTENTS status of country and natIonaL countEr-narcotIc actIVItIEs ACTVI I tIEs of thE dIrEZIonE cEntraLE PEr I sErVIZI antIdroga PART ONE STATUS OF COUNTRY AND NATIONAL c onte nts COUNTER-NARCOTIC ACTIVITIES national counter-narcotic activities law-enforcement activities at regional and provincial level ORgANIZED CRImE national counter-narcotic ACTIVITIES introduction c onte nts drug operations drug seizures persons reported to the judicial authority cocaine heroin cannabis synthetic drugs general table drug abuse deaths IntroductIon The drug multinational corporations, entrenched all These operations only referred to the indictable over the world move the illicit substances through offences without considering the violations and the a complex network of smuggling routes originating administrative sanctions. pa rt on e from the source countries to the consumption areas, The above-mentioned operations involved all types attracted by the high profits deriving from these of drugs whose trafficking and trade is prohibited by illicit activities. Italy - where many powerful local law. and foreign criminal organizations are active - is a major European transit point and a consumption area as well as a cannabis producing country although to 23,272 a limited extent. The analysis of data gathered by the Direzione 22,748 Centrale per i Servizi Antidroga in 2012 - mainly referring to constantly monitored indicators such as drug operations, persons reported to the Judicial c onte nts Authority and drug seizures - highlighted that drug demand and supply were still high, notwithstanding the effective counter-narcotic measures taken by the 2011 2012 law enforcement authorities in this sector. With respect to the previous year, the seizure trend Ten-year trend showed: Since 2003, the number of drug operations has - an increase of +17.27% for heroin; always been around 21,000 per year, peaking in 2009 - a decrease of -16.20% for cocaine; with 23,316 operations and reaching the lowest level - an increase of +37.06% for synthetic drugs and a in 2003 with 18,495. This discrepancy should be decline of the amphetamines in powder (-2.95%); considered in the light of the numerous legislative - marijuana seizures almost doubled (+96.73%) and amendments made, mainly aimed at focusing the a slight increase of hashish seizures (+7.70%). attention on the most serious crimes in order to hit An increase of drug abuse deaths (+7.14%) was also the upper echelons of drug trafficking organizations. recorded. The enforcement efforts reached high levels and culminated in the seizure of a total of kg 50,155 30,000 23,316 23,272 23,179 22,748 22,193 (+27.10%) of drugs, while 34,971 (-6%) subjects 22,166 20,776 19,877 18,745 were reported to the Judicial Authority: out of them, 20,000 18,495 12,226 were foreign nationals (-4.31%) and 1,263 minors (+5.87%). 10,000 0 drug operatIons 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 In 2012, 22,748 drug operations were conducted, with a decrease of 2.25% with respect to 2011. regIonal dIstrIbutIon of drug operatIons Lombardia, with a total of 3,545 operations, is in the The most evident decreases were recorded in Friuli lead with respect to the other regions, followed by Venezia Giulia (-19.72%) and Marche (-17.37%). Lazio (2,956), Campania (2,341), Emilia Romagna Considering the number of drug operations by macro (1,859), Sicilia (1,615) and Puglia (1,596). areas, in 2012, the North of Italy was in the lead with pa rt on e The lowest levels were recorded in Molise (113) and 43.10%, followed by the South of Italy and islands Valle d’Aosta (45). with 33.62% and by Central Italy with 23.29%. With respect to 2011, the number of drug operations increased in Basilicata (+7.69%), Abruzzo (+3.40%) and Campania (+3.31%). tino A. en A r . e d’Ao T li V. Giul ll st iu i a a 417 r a V 45 ba F om rdia 228 c onte nts L e 3,545 Ven to mon Pie te 1,521 1,318 Rom ilia agna Liguria m 871 E 1,859 Toscana arche 1,338 M Umbria 590 413 Abruzzo Lazio 517 2,956 Molise Puglia 113 1,596 mpani Ca a 2,341 silica Ba ta rdegn 154 Sa a 720 by macro areas Calabria 591 2% .6 3 3 Sicilia 4 3 . 1 1,615 0 % % 9 2 . 3 2 drug seIzures In 2012, with respect to the previous year, increases The cocaine traffickers operating in Italy were above pa rt on e of seizures of heroin (+17.27%), hashish (+7.70%), all supplied by the Colombian market. This substance marijuana (+96.73%), amphetamines in doses was mainly transported through Ecuador, Venezuela, (+26.52%), LSD (+13.99%) and of the number of Brazil and the Dominican Republic and, once in cannabis plants were recorded, totalling a remarkable Europe, through Spain and the Netherlands. Heroin increase of 308.85%. On the contrary, there was reaching Italy mainly originated in Afghanistan, via a drop in the seizures of cocaine (-16.20%) and Turkey and the Balkan Peninsula. As to hashish, amphetamines in powder (-2.95%). The most the criminal networks used the smuggling routes significant seizure occurred in Imperia, in September transiting Spain and France. The Dutch market of (kg 3,680 of hashish). synthetic drugs and marijuana still has a significant As to the market of minor drugs, the following role with regard to Italy. In Italy, the most relevant seizures were made: kg 330.82 of khat; kg 6.36 and drug trafficking activities were operated by the c onte nts litres 8.50 of GBL; kg 1.65, litres 37.11 and 6,548 following criminal networks: doses of methadone; kg 44.27 and 5,227 poppy - for cocaine: ‘Ndrangheta, Camorra, Balkan and capsules.