(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. (ANSA).