At dawn, while the streets were still deserted, someone thought of turning them into a clandestine trail. In Campo Rotondo Etneo, in the Catania area, a horse race – yet another – was interrupted only thanks to a targeted operation by the State Police, who reported 15 people – including two minors – for mistreatment of animals and organization of an illegal race.
The horses involved in the crazy race, two English thoroughbreds equipped with microchips, have been seized and entrusted to a specialized company that will take care of their well-being.
The illegal race at dawn
The start took place at dawn last Sunday. Two jockeys, each driving a carriage, traveled approximately two kilometers on public roads. Around them, a procession of motorbikes and cars launched at high speeds, with continuous horns to encourage the horses, in an extremely dangerous context both for the animals and for any passers-by. In addition to the two thoroughbreds, during the operation the police also seized 5000 euros in cash, a “pizzino” with the names of the bettors and the two carriages used for the race.
Drones: the decisive weapon for the blitz
These races are planned in isolated areas, specifically identified to escape controls and ensure quick escape routes. A tried and tested system that focuses on the absence of witnesses and the difficulty of immediate intervention by the police. This time, however, something went wrong. Investigators used surveillance drones, monitoring both organizers and audiences from above in real time. A silent and discreet technology, which allowed us to observe the entire scene without arousing suspicion and to collect decisive elements.
Thanks to the coordinates provided by the drone pilots, over twenty officers intervened quickly. The mounted team secured the animals, preventing them from escaping and causing accidents, while the police cars and the mobile team stopped one of the jockeys and three people who were celebrating the victory.
Other suspects, some with their faces covered, escaped on scooters with hidden license plates. But their escape did not last long: they were tracked down and reported in the following hours.
