Italian police say they have busted a gang of drug dealers who tested a remote-controlled submarine that most likely they planned to use for smuggling, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
The drug dealers were based in the area of the northern Italian city of Turin and are suspected of trafficking "significant amounts" cocaine, hashish and marijuana, the police said in a statement.
During the investigation, which spanned 2021 and 2022, police seized more than 204 kg of drugs. The small submarine that the traffickers designed and tested has not yet been put into service.
There were arrests, but the police did not say how many there were.
They did not say why they are only now announcing the investigation.
Police discovered the group, allegedly led by two Albanians, after investigating car wash operators who ran marijuana plantations.
According to the statement, the smugglers also operated in Ecuador, Belgium, France and Spain.
Police say the group used cars fitted with homemade double bottoms to smuggle cocaine.