Fentanyl alert triggered in Italy, found in heroin dose

(ANSA) - ROME, APR 30 - 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". (ANSA).