Prisons: simultaneous transfer of 128 prisoners subject to the 41-bis regime to Vigevano
The operation involved five institutions and a massive deployment of resources to reorganise the special detention system, thereby enhancing security and efficiency.
The Prison Service operation “Argus” has been successfully completed, a complex operation coordinated by the Department of Prison Administration which, between Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 June, enabled the simultaneous transfer of 128 prisoners subject to the special regime provided for under Article 41-bis of the Prison Regulations. The operation involved the prisons in Novara, Cuneo, Tolmezzo and Milan, with the final destination being the prison in Vigevano, recently designated as a new facility within the special prison network by Ministerial Decree of 18 June 2026.
The prisons involved
The entire operation required careful planning and constant coordination between the central and regional branches of the Administration. The operations, coordinated by the acting director of the Mobile Operational Group, Senior Prison Service Officer Silvio Gallo, involved five prisons under the jurisdiction of the regional prison authorities in Milan, Turin and Padua, and the integrated use of land and air transport.
The logistics mission
The organisational and logistical effort deployed by the Prison Service was exceptional, as evidenced by the figures for the operation. A total of 165 prison police officers were deployed, supported by a fleet comprising 15 vans for transporting prisoners, 3 special vehicles dedicated to prisoner transfers, 25 patrol cars, 6 motorcycles, 9 logistical support vehicles and 5 ambulances dedicated to the transport of prisoners.
The reorganisation
“Argus” represents a strategic step in the implementation of the “Kairos” project, the reorganisation plan for the special detention system developed in recent months by the DAP through infrastructure upgrades, the refurbishment of detention facilities and the reorganisation of the layout of the wings designated for the detention of individuals subject to the differentiated regime. This is a further step towards strengthening the organisational efficiency and security of the special 41-bis detention system, which has long served as a model for many countries both within and outside Europe.
