More Than 1,000 Arrested Across Italy on Drug Trafficking, Immigrant Smuggling, Counterfeiting, and Prostitution Rings

Sep 27, 2002

ROME (AP) - In a series of sweeps across the country, Italian police arrested more than 1,000 people for drug trafficking, smuggling illegal immigrants, counterfeiting and running prostitution rings, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said Friday.

More than 600 of those arrested were foreigners, with most coming from Nigeria, Romania, Albania, Morocco, Ukraine and Moldova, authorities said.

During the monthlong investigation, police seized 224 pounds of drugs and tens of thousands of counterfeit items, such as purses and CDs. Across Italy, street vendors sell fake shoes, belts and bags of big-name designers such as Gucci and Chanel, as well as illegally reproduced music and computer CDs.

Cities involved in the investigation include Rome, Naples, Milan, Florence and Bologna.

Berlusconi also said more than 1,300 illegal immigrants have been expelled from Italy in the last month, including more than 300 women who had been forced into prostitution.

Berlusconi's conservative coalition was elected in May 2001 on a promise to crack down on organized crime and illegal immigration. Many in his center-right coalition link crime to immigrants from such areas as eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.

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