A man walking while clutching a large cardboard box, as if it were an ordinary package, was arrested after police discovered the apparent new appliance concealed an ingenious compartment. Hidden behind the packaging of what looked like a brand-new air conditioner was over two kilograms of narcotics. The alleged courier was unmasked and arrested by State Police and is now strongly suspected of the crime of possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute. The incident occurred in Rome on Via Tor de Schiavi.
The secret was betrayed by the unmistakable, acrid smell of drugs emanating from behind the innocuous packaging. Instead of an ignition motor, a compartment had been hollowed out to hold over two kilos of narcotics. The stash, divided into bags and bricks of the classic hundred-gram size, consisted of hashish and marijuana.
The young man, a 21-year-old Roman, was immediately placed under arrest. The arrest was subsequently validated by the preliminary investigations judge (GIP) at Piazzale Clodio.