Tourist kiosks shut down next to archaeological sites at Pompei after police investigation

 ROME - After a warrant was issued on Sept. 26, on Monday, police blitzed the characteristic kiosks outside of the Pompeii Excavations, sealing off 46. These tourist kiosks not only sold souvenirs, but also soft drinks and ice cream between Piazza Esedra, Pizza Anfiteatro, Via Roma and Villa dei Misteri. 

 It is believed that some of these kiosks did not have licenses to sell items at the outer perimeter of the most famous archaeological park in Italy. Il Fatto Quotidiano reports that some had not even had a license for decades, others had illegitimate permits which had been passed down from relatives, and multiple had fixed their kiosk to the ground in a way which was no longer compatible with the licence they had been given. 

 There are now 66 suspects involved in this investigation, originating from all over the world including Brazil and Japan. They are being investigated for the invasion and abusive occupation of public land. 

 Some are blaming the municipality for their lack of action in this case. Politician Emanuela Cozzitorto has blamed the local authorities for their “blind eye of inert municipal administration that ... somehow endorsed, with its inertia, the substantial and irregular self-management by kiosk operators.”

 Il Fatto Quotidiano suggests that the absence of politicians and public officials in the case will be short-lived. 

tjpw