Porto Recanati, August 13, 2026 – Four arrests for the assault on the armored van on the A14, which occurred last October 27 in the territory of Porto Recanati. This morning the carabinieri of the operational investigative unit of Macerata, the investigators of the mobile squad of the Macerata Police Headquarters, the investigative section of Ancona (Sisco) and the central operational service, in collaboration with the mobile squad of Foggia, executed a precautionary custody order against four convicted individuals of Apulian origin for crimes against property, aged between 45 and 58 years, considered responsible in complicity for attempted robbery, attempted murder, and receiving stolen goods, with the aggravating factor of facilitation and the mafia method.
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The operation
Today’s operation, directed by the Ancona District Prosecutor’s Office and with the higher coordination of the National Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office, stemmed from the assault that took place last October 27, when on the A14 highway stretch in the territory of Porto Recanati an armed commando composed of at least 10 people in 5 cars later found to be stolen, attacked two armored vans of the security company “Vedetta 2 Mondialpol”, one of which was carrying cash amounting to about 2,900,000 euros.
The October 27 assault
The criminals, all wearing balaclavas, after approaching the armored vans (which had left the operational headquarters in Jesi and were headed to the Civitanova vault), having spread three-pronged nails and placed a truck sideways to prevent law enforcement intervention, fired several shots with Kalashnikovs at the armored vehicles. After forcing the heavy vehicles to stop, the robbers used explosives to try to blow up the safe inside one of the vehicles by placing an actual device on the side of the vehicle.
Three arrests in flagrante delicto
Immediately, three individuals from the Cerignola area were arrested in flagrante delicto for attempted aggravated robbery in complicity and attempted murder by the carabinieri of the Macerata Provincial Command, after being tracked down just outside the highway stretch and are currently in prison.
The investigations
Simultaneously with the arrests in flagrante, urgent investigations by the specialized investigative offices of the Carabinieri and the State Police were launched, which allowed the collection of serious evidence against the current suspects thanks to analysis of phone records, review of camera footage, results of specific inspections and DNA analysis by the RIS of Rome, the SIS of the operational unit of the Carabinieri of Ancona and the Scientific Police, managing to reconstruct the roles and conduct of the suspects in the assault on the armored vans.
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The aggravating factor of the mafia method
The reconstruction of this modus operandi allowed the contesting of the aggravating factor of the mafia method since the assault was carried out with paramilitary techniques and showed the intimidation force typical of mafia criminal associations. In fact, the shooting took place in broad daylight, using war weapons and explosives, with total disregard for the fate of unsuspecting motorists and even firing several AK-47 shots at the windshield of the vehicle (fortunately armored) endangering the lives of the security guards; in this regard, the crime of attempted murder was also charged.
Finally, statements made by some collaborators allowed understanding how these groups of assailants operated in close synergy and facilitated the operations of the Apulian mafia families. In particular, the criminal groups specialized in assaults on armored vans or vaults of security institutes would operate with the prior approval of the Apulian mafia families or even at their “invitation.” According to investigations, the Apulian mafia organizations provide the assault groups with weapons, including war weapons, financially support the criminal action (advancing expenses for trips, car rentals, purchase of dedicated cell phones, etc.) and provide support and logistical cover at every stage of the robbery, all in exchange for a significant percentage of the loot.
The proceeds of the robberies, as reported by various collaborators heard, are invested in other illicit activities, such as the purchase of drug shipments, reinvested in acquiring commercial activities such as restaurants or gaming and betting businesses or used to support the families of members who are incarcerated.
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