Italian paramilitary police arrested two caterers working on Denzel Washington’s action film The Equalizer 3 after they raided their hotel rooms and seized 120 grams of cocaine.
The drug raid took place at a hotel near the town of Maiori on the Amalfi Coast on Tuesday afternoon. This was followed by the sudden death of the production’s catering manager.
Italian newspaper Il Giornale reported that the 55-year-old man collapsed while exiting a local pub and later died of a heart attack.
Several packets of cocaine were subsequently discovered in his pockets, leading police to suspect other drugs may be on the set of The Equalizer 3 production.
During Tuesday’s raid, Italian police officers placed two Roman catering workers in their 30s under house arrest on suspicion of drug trafficking after they allegedly seized the cocaine from their hotel room.
The third installment in The Equalizer franchise, headlined by Denzel Washington, will be filmed on Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Cobra Team / BACKGROUND
Paramilitary police raided a hotel housing caterers working on the film’s production after the head of catering died of a heart attack. Cobra Team / BACKGROUND
Police also searched the local port where the film production takes place. AFP via Getty Images
The couple were arrested after a private event during their day off and were not on set at the time, Deadline reported, citing anonymous sources.
A third caterer was allegedly found in possession of a small amount of cocaine “for personal use” and had his driver’s license revoked.
Police also searched the area of the local port, which was the main location for the film’s production.
The film is being produced by Sony Pictures in association with Italian company Eagle Pictures, with a third party, Garbo Produzioni, handling on-site logistics.
Washington, 67, is reprising his role as former US Marine Robert McCall. Getty Images
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, left, The Equalizer 3 stars Washington and Dakota Fanning, pictured at a photocall in Italy in October. Getty Images
Directed by Antoine Fuqua, The Equalizer 3 stars Washington and Dakota Fanning.
Washington, 67, is reprising his role as retired US Marine Robert McCall.
This is Washington and Fuqua’s fifth joint project. They previously collaborated on Training Day and the first two installments in The Equalizer franchise.
The Equalizer 3 is slated to hit theaters on September 1, 2023.