ROME - One Italian secret service agent died, one placed in a coma, and two others intoxicated in a “cyanide” poisoning in the Tunisian town of Hammamet last week, according to Nova news agency. Nova has broken the story, saying that during a dinner among eight friends, secret service agents were poisoned by homemade alcoholic drinks made by the fermentation of peach stones in ethyl alcohol. Other sources have suggested the poisoned men were no longer intelligence agents, but had already retired from service. 

 Nova has reported that it previously seemed that the health of a man in the coma was improving, but that his condition has now worsened as the toxic substance has compromised internal organs. Nova reported that the man will require an urgent transfer back to Italy – the Italian authorities are currently in discussion with Tunisian doctors about how best to transport the patient. 

 It is believed that the cyanide entered the peach stone drinks through a substance called amygdalin, which by itself is harmless, but can release hydrocyanic acid, or cyanide in the presence of other substances. 

Nova reports that they victims were all part of the team that were involved in the arrest of Angelo Salvatore Stracuzzi – the 57-year-old so called “Concrete King” who was arrested in Tunisia in August following an investigation into alleged fraudulent activity including illicit transfer of money and extortion.

 In 2016, the Guardia di Finanza confiscated 19.5 million euros worth of his assets alleged to have been illegal.

 Stracuzzi had also previously been the subject of police investigations for his alleged links to Cosa Nostra in Argentina, and was implicated in the anti-mafia operations “Progresso” and “Progresso 2” but was never convicted. 

 The Tunisian authorities have confirmed that Italian Agent referred to as G.M. was killed by “cyanide” poisoning, but the exact quantity of the substance he ingested remains uncertain.

 This is because the agents of the “Brigade Criminelle” of the Tunisian Police force were unable to exactify the quantity of cyanide ingested as the bottle of the drink was emptied by the owner of the house into the sink before their arrival.  

 The investigation is still ongoing with specific details of the autopsy and findings being kept secret. 

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