Police Divers Seize $500,000 Worth of Hashish in Ponza Island Sea Cave

On Tuesday, June 24, 2026, police divers recovered 330 blocks of hashish, 40 kg (88 lb), from a sea-accessed cave on Ponza, the largest island of the Pontine archipelago. The haul, worth over $500,000, is believed to have arrived by dinghy from Anzio and was slated for the summer tourist season.

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The seizure followed a multi-stage investigation that combined intelligence, territorial observation, and monitoring of suspicious movements. Divers from the 4th Naval Unit Squad of Gaeta Naval Operations worked with the Ponza branch of the Guardia di Finanza to retrieve the narcotics from the cave’s tunnel.

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The agencies involved were the Guardia di Finanza and Gaeta Naval Operations. Ponza’s mayor, Francesco Ambrosino, noted the island’s limited police force—five officers mainly handling ferry traffic—and warned that an expected 15,000 visitors for the Saints Peter and Paul weekend could raise drug-dealing risks.

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The haul consisted of 330 hashish blocks weighing 40 kg (88 lb) with an estimated street value above $500,000. Officials anticipate 15,000 tourists for the weekend, compared with 3,000 residents, while the island’s police force remains at five officers.

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Authorities say the hashish was intended for the illicit market that expands with the summer tourist surge. Intercepting the shipment in a hard-to-reach cave demonstrates law-enforcement’s ability to disrupt supply chains before they reach venues frequented by visitors.

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The Guardia di Finanza called the operation a “significant achievement” that showcases personnel professionalism in “particularly complex and difficult-to-access environments.” Mayor Ambrosino said the seizure reassures residents, noting law-enforcement is “paying close attention” amid the tourist influx.

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Officials highlighted the island’s limited police presence—only five officers—as a factor that makes Ponza attractive to party-goers and illicit traders. The high visitor-to-resident ratio raises concerns that drug dealing could rise despite the recent seizure.

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• “The investigative activity, carried out through intelligence services, territorial observation, and monitoring of suspicious movements, led to the identification of a significant quantity of narcotics intended to fuel the illicit market during the summer season,” — Guardia di Finanza statement

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• “This is a significant achievement that demonstrates the professionalism and training of the personnel employed, capable of operating in particularly complex and difficult-to-access environments.” — Guardia di Finanza statement

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• “The season has just begun. We expect 15,000 people to arrive for the upcoming weekend of Saints Peter and Paul: there are 3,000 residents,” — Francesco Ambrosino, Mayor of Ponza

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• “It’s clear that with these numbers, drug dealing can be a problem, but the seizures demonstrate that law enforcement is paying close attention. This is comforting.” — Francesco Ambrosino, Mayor of Ponza

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