Police bust drive-through cocaine service

ROME: Italian police have broken up a drug gang that offered a drive-through service for cocaine just outside Rome’s main cemetery, an operation that allegedly ran with the help of three corrupt cops.

"Customers... mostly by car and without even getting out, used to approach subjects posing as flower sellers, pay what was due and receive the quantity of drugs required," police said in a statement Tuesday.

Twenty-two people were investigated as part of "Operation Cleopatra" following investigations by anti-mafia prosecutors. Half were placed in pre-trial detention and another six put under house arrest. The suspects are accused of offences including criminal association aimed at drug trafficking, drug dealing, illegal possession of firearms, aggravated theft, corruption and breach of police records.