The National Early Warning System for
Drugs (NEWS-D) coordinated by the Department for Anti-Drug
Policies (DPA) has issued an alert for the presence of fentanyl
found, through tests carried out by the Higher Health Institute
(ISS), as a cutting substance in a dose of heroin seized a few
weeks ago in the Perugia area, the first time this has happened
in Italy, sources said Tuesday.
In liaison with Cabinet Secretary Alfredo Mantovano, the
National Prevention Plan against the Misuse of Fentanyl was
therefore activated, which provides for the alert to be sent to
all police forces and administrations.
The Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta, Italy's biggest, richest and
most powerful mafia due to its control of the European cocaine
market, is now interested in getting into the fentanyl trade,
Mantovano said as part of his intelligence service oversight
brief last month.
"Fentanyl is not a traffic limited to the US. In the EU there
are signs in Portugal and GB. Our intelligence signals an
interest of 'Ndrangheta even if they are testing the market to
verify the advantages of their insertion into the market," he
said during the presentation at the premier's office at Palazzo
Chigi of the 'National Plan of prevention against the improper
use of fentanyl and other synthetic opiates'.
Mantovano described fentanyl, which has ravaged the USA and is
gaining a foothold in Europe, as "the zombie drug, with as
little as 1-2 milligrammes potentially being lethal".
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