Feted in Panama, blonde beauty accused of drug trafficking

A FORMER A paramour of ex Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was feted and fawned upon by the Martinelli administration when she came to Panama,is one of 28 people arrested in Italy, accused of belonging to a criminal network dedicated to international drug trafficking.

 Federica Gagliardi was better known as the “white lady” for her elegant white on official visits.
Gagliardi accompanied Berlusconi to Panama in June 2010, when the aging, former prime minister came on an official visit He was also accompanied by Valter Lavítola, who has several convictions for corruption and extortion in Italy, Then 28, she quickly became the star of the visiting troupe . She was part of the official Italian delegation that participated in meetings of the G-8 in Toronto (Canada) in June after the which traveled with Berlusconi to Panama on an official visit, following a two-day stopover in Brazil. Gagliardi was treated with honors at the Palacio de las Garzas, captivating the eye and mingling with members of the Cabinet of then President Ricardo Martinelli.
She also traveled with authorities to participate in an inspection of the Panama Canal expansion works .
Naples prosecutors opened proceedings in March last year, after the blonde 32 years-old tried to circumvent controls at Rome’s Fiumicino airport, with 24 kilos of pure cocaine, hidden in a backpack and suitcase.
Now, the chief prosecutor of Naples, Francesco Greco, and the head of the Anti-Mafia Unit, Pierpaolo Filippelli, are scrutinizing the official state aircraft used to fly to Panama and Brazil, among other countries, with Gagliardi, on board because research has revealed that it was not the first time that she had transported drugs from South America.
The chief prosecutor is Vincenzo Piscitelli, who led the research on Italy-Panama international corruption.
Among those arrested in the drug operation was a senior police officer who worked at the customs office Fiumicino airport and corrupt agents of the Guardia di Finanza.
They have seized 93 kilos of cocaine and 930 kilos of hashish, which could have been sold for $40 million.
According to investigators, the disbanded gang, maintained direct contact with drug cartels in South Am