News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2003

Over 100 Kilograms of Coke Seized in Rome Airport

Packages of cocaine that were seized in Italy

JUN 4--A year-long investigation yielded big results in Rome's Fiumicino Airport on May 15th when over 100 kilograms of cocaine were seized. The drugs were linked to an organization of Italian and Colombian nationals who used couriers to transport cocaine through Caracas, Venezuela, to Spain and Italy. This was the second major seizure at Fiumicino that was linked to this specific trafficking group-in January 2003 an Italian national was arrested for smuggling 24 kilograms of cocaine. So far, the current investigation has resulted in the arrests of 4 Italian nationals and additional arrests are expected. The investigation, conducted by DEA Rome and the Italian National Police, is on-going with the assistance of the DEA Caracas Office and Venezuelan law enforcement authorities.