Rimini police arrest three suspects and seize cocaine after BMW chase
Three suspects were arrested in Rimini, following a high-speed police chase involving a stolen BMW, vehicle collisions, warning shots, and the subsequent seizure of 347 grams of cocaine, 6,500 euros in cash, and two knives by the state mobile squad led by Vice Questore Aggiunto Marco Masia.
The operation began at approximately 10:30 a.m. when mobile squad investigators cross-referenced database records and spotted a BMW that had been stolen several weeks prior in Bologna. The vehicle was intercepted on via Tolemaide carrying two occupants. Instead of complying with orders to stop, the driver attempted to ram the police vehicle and accelerated away.
The suspect vehicle barreled down via Tolemaide, striking four other cars in a bid to evade the authorities. One of the impacted automobiles transported Swiss tourists. The chaotic run ended when the BMW sustained disabling damage, forcing the two occupants to abandon the vehicle and sprint into nearby fields. Police pursuit teams tracked them down, deploying two warning shots into the air during the most volatile moments of the foot chase. Officers detained both suspects, though the physical struggle left two policemen injured with medical prognoses of 25 and 3 days respectively.
A search of the disabled BMW yielded narcotics, cash, and two knives. Armed with these discoveries, investigators expanded their operations to the lodging shared by the suspects. That secondary search uncovered the bulk of the contraband: approximately 347 grams of cocaine and 6,500 euros in cash. A 33-year-old Italian national was present in the room and subsequently arrested on the spot.
Authorities formally booked two Albanian nationals, aged 21 and 22, alongside the 33-year-old Italian man. Defense counsel Massimiliano Orrù represents the two younger defendants. Prosecutors leveled multiple charges against the 21 and 22-year-olds, including receiving stolen goods, aggravated drug possession with intent to distribute, resisting arrest, assaulting public officials, property damage, carrying offensive weapons, and severe traffic violations stemming from the high-speed escape. The 33-year-old faces direct charges of possessing narcotics for distribution purposes.