HMEs shipped via courier from Naples across Italy

A 33-year-old Italian man residing in the Naples area allegedly packaged and shipped dangerous pyrotechnic products to over thirty Italian provinces via ordinary couriers. The man was apprehended by the Naples State Police following a protracted investigation that culminated in a search of his apartment and car, in which police found illegal homemade explosive devices (HMEs) purchased online via an account attributable to him. The explosive materials, disguised as ‘household items’, were shipped to buyers via couriers who were unaware of the dangerous nature of the contents of the packages. A subsequent search of the man’s residence led to the discovery of a particularly dangerous device, as well as other homemade explosive products, including 163 paper bombs ready to be shipped and 2,050 euros in cash. A subsequent search of a farmhouse revealed 2 kg of chemical precursors, fire fuses, and a substantial quantity of cardboard tubes of various calibers and sizes intended for the manufacture of explosive devices.