Italy Threatens Prison for Truckers Blocking Southern Routes

The Italian government is threatening criminal penalties and prison sentences for truck drivers who have established roadblocks across southern Italy. The protests, driven by soaring diesel costs and a rising cost of living, have paralyzed critical transport routes, including the A1 motorway near Caserta. These blockades have caused severe supply chain disruptions, leaving supermarket shelves empty of fresh produce and creating aviation fuel shortages at Crotone and Reggio Calabria airports.

In response, the Interior Ministry deployed police escorts for trucks, particularly in the Campania region, and conducted operations in Casertano to identify protesters and clear picket lines. While some blockades near highways have been removed, others persist in industrial and intermodal areas. To mitigate the crisis, the government allocated over €1 billion in support for diesel cost compensation and fleet modernization.

Local officials in Naples and Bari have warned that the disruptions are creating a critical situation for waste collection and public transport. The unrest coincides with a broader trend of social instability across Europe, including concurrent riots in France. Government ministers have called for an immediate end to the blockades to restore the flow of goods and protect entrepreneurs.