POLICE BUST ITALIAN-DUTCH DRUGS RING

POLICE BUST ITALIAN-DUTCH DRUGS RING

(ANSA) - Turin, February 8 - Police said on Wednesday that they had arrested 27 people and busted a ring capable of smuggling up to 50 kilos of drugs a week from the Netherlands to Italy.

The people were arrested in raids overnight and early on Wednesday in the northern Italian region of Piedmont and one person was detained in the Dutch city of Helmond.

Police suspect many other people were involved in the ring and a total 54 people have been reported to prosecutors because they are suspected of wrongdoing.

Officers seized a gun and 280 kilos of hashish, marijuana and cocaine destined for the Turin drugs market after searching over 30 properties.

Investigators said wiretaps showed the gang were even willing to sell drugs that were potentially harmful because they had got wet while being transported.

photo: Cocaine seized in a previous operation by Italian police.