ISTRIAN POLICE ARREST ITALIAN SUSPECTED OF WEAPONS, DRUG SMUGGLING

PULA, Jan 2 (Hina) - The Istrian police arrested an Italian from Verona, Luciano Pozza, on December 29, 2001 in Livade in the northern Istrian municipality of Oprtalj on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by the Italian Interpol in October 1998. Pozza was suspected of having committed a series of crimes of weapons and drug smuggling, the head of crimes department at the Istrian police, Hajrudin Merdenovic, told a press conference Wednesday. According to Merdenovic, Pozza showed a fake Italian identity card with a name of Albert Z., 42, from Padova, with a place of residence in Milan, as he was arrested. A greater amount of weapons, hand-bombs, three electro-detonator caps, three metres of slow-burning igniter, around 3.5 kilos of classic explosive, a "scorpion" pistol with a great amount of ammunition, an automatic pistol CZ 9 mm, a FM 9 mm pistol, an IAG 6.35 mm pistol and a very deadly weapon, the crossbow were found during a search of his flat. Pozza is now at a prison in Pula and should be diplomatically handed over to Italian authorities within 40 days. Charges of illegal possession of weapons and explosives, and drugs trade were filed against Pozzo at the municipal state Prosecutor's Office in Buzet. (hina) np