https://www.lacnews24.it/cronaca/la...a-vista-non-si-devono-avvicinare_190824/The 'Ndrangheta war comes close to Lake Como due to conflicts over drugs: "Let's shoot them on sight, they shouldn't come close"
he clash in the Erba area between the "Crotonesi" and the people of Reggio for the division of shares in the cocaine market. The race to find weapons and ammunition to prepare for the feud before the intervention of the Varca clan and peace in the name of business. The story in the Milan DDA investigation
On that branch of Lake Como a 'Ndrangheta war came close . The clans no longer shoot, especially their northern offshoots. Drug deals, however, still risk sparking feuds. Opposite there are two clubs: Erba and Canzo, divided by interests in the drug business .
The investigation by the Milan DDA which led to the arrest of 30 people in recent days highlights the tensions between the two groups: on the one hand there is Vincenzo Milazzo , defined by the investigators as the "operational arm" of Luigi Vona , born in Roccabernarda 71 years ago and already head of the Canzo club (returned from almost 10 years in prison for Operation Infinito and arrested again last Tuesday); on the other Michele “U repentitu” Oppedisano , 55 years old, and Pasquale Oppedisano , 25 years old, both originally from the Gioia Tauro plain. Milazzo wants to manage the deal on his own: he explains to the boss that «the proposal of the "erbesi", and of Pasquale Oppedisano in particular, is inadmissible because he, after 7 years of "hard work", is not willing to give up "shares of the market" . The conversation takes place after a summit (the one on March 8, 2020): there will be several to iron out differences.
The proposal to which Milazzo refers comes from Michele Oppedisano and aims at a clear division of the territory: «You stay on this side and we stay over there... and you no longer give anything to Erba... get as far as Segrino because we're here in Erba ." These are the phrases that risk triggering war. Milazzo is not willing to give up anything: «If I have to share my loaf I'll share it with Leonardo ( Potenza, another collaborator of the boss, ed. ) and Luigi ( Vona, ed. ) but I told him I don't care about the others outside ». Potenza goes further: he defines Oppedisano as «"nothing” compared to Vona and the other important affiliates of Erba» and hypothesizes radical solutions to the disagreements: « But let's shoot them on sight, we won't let them get close to the lake ».
These are not empty threats: the magistrates of the DDA of Milan highlight "how the increase in the conflicts that arose between the two criminal groups over the territorial division of the drug dealing areas had led to an alarming search for weapons and ammunition by the criminal association". While Milazzo and Potenza have a "hostile and rigid" attitude, Vona, as an old boss, tries to mediate and "defuse the discontent of his associates". One of the conflicts revolves around the supply of two kilograms of hashish requested by Oppedisano from the Vona group: the deal does not go well and Milazzo is worried "about possible retaliatory actions on the part of the Erba club". He asks Vona " should we expect any pranks?" » and he replies «I don't even trust myself, but I don't believe so». Leonardo Potenza's advice, however, is eloquent: "Yes, bring the gun... because he expects it."
Even Vona at a certain point becomes impatient « due to the continuous complaints of the “Calabrians” of Erba », so much so that he urges Milazzo to summon them again: «He told me to make an appointment so that he, who has broken his ass, has to see them !». Milazzo's other concern is "that the Oppedisano group could sell him to the police to get him out of the way ." «The only thing that can worry me is that I don't know how much pieces of shit people can be, a call to the police... do you understand anything? That's the only thing that worries me... even just to say okay then nothing to us, nothing to everyone."
What can fix things before tensions explode is an external intervention. A meeting in Valbrona, in the province of Como, sees the participation of the Varca family , who have always played a leading role in mafia issues in Erba. Characters linked to the Crotone 'ndrine sit at the table with the Oppedisano, Milazzo and Potenza families. Only Vona is missing, subject to special surveillance: his presence could attract the police who, in reality, monitor everything. The escalation stops and leaves room for an agreement on the division of the market . In the name of money, the two factions put aside warlike intentions and peace returns to the lake: the best possible condition for making money.
