Twenty-eight were arrested on
Wednesday following the conclusion of an investigation into an
international drug ring sparked last March when an ex-Silvio
Berlusconi aide was stopped at Rome's Fiumicino airport with 24
kg of cocaine in her luggage.
Federica Gagliardi was dubbed the "white lady" because she
was seen dressed all in white as she descended ex-premier
Berlusconi's plane as part of the G8 Toronto delegation in June
2010.
Gagliardi had reportedly helped with the election team
behind Berlusconi's now-defunct People of Freedom (PdL) party
victory in regional elections in Lazio and had asked to then be
included in an international event.
During the investigation, police arrested various drug
smugglers allegedly involved in the international ring that
investigators said is connected to South American drug cartels,
and seized a total of 93 kg of cocaine and 930 kg of hashish,
with an estimated street value of at least 35 million euros.
Investigators said the drugs were destined for sale mainly
in the Campania region.
Finance police in Naples and Frosinone on Wednesday were
also in the process of seizing assets and property totalling
approximately four million euros.
One of the 28 people arrested on Wednesday was out under
house arrest.
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