https://www.corrieredellacalabria.i...rocco-comanda-ancora-e-il-capo-dei-capi/The reconstruction
'Ndrangheta, the Anello-Fruci and the apparent power vacuum. «Rocco still commands, he is the boss of bosses»
After “Imponimento” the one to take over the square would have been Mimmo Cracolici, an old friend and member of the clan. But without “exaggerating”
Published: 11/11/2024 – 6:40
LAMEZIA TERME For a clan that is almost completely wiped out, there is immediately another one ready to occupy the “empty spaces”. Stories of ‘ndrangheta that repeat themselves every time, the manifesto of an attitude, that of Calabrian organized crime, to control the territory and to challenge the police forces. Recurring episodes, therefore, among which are also included the events in the Lamezia territory and that on the border with the province of Vibonese e. In this portion of Calabria, in fact, the investigation of the Catanzaro Anti-Mafia District had dealt a hard blow to the Anello-Fruci clan thanks to the operation “Imponimento”: dozens of arrests and beheaded families, up to the sentences issued in the first degree in ordinary and already on appeal in abbreviated, including the “bosses” of the two factions: Rocco Anello, Tommaso Anello, Vincenzino and Pino Fruci.
And then, given the power vacuum in the territory, it would have been the criminal group led by Mimmo Cracolici (class of '71), already hegemonic in the territory of Cortale and Maida and closely linked to the Cracolici of Filogaso and Maierato, to "take" the area between Lamezia Terme and Filadelfia, collecting in some way the "criminal legacy", with the recognition from the neighboring gangs of the Lamezia Terme, Catanzaro and, indeed, Vibo Valentia areas.
Old Ties with the Anello-Fruci
In the investigation later renamed “Artemis”, the investigators of the Catanzaro Anti-Mafia District have thus reconstructed the activities carried out by Mimmo Cracolici, starting from drug dealing to logging, up to a capillary control of the territory in full compliance with the 'ndrangheta logic of dividing up economic business, without neglecting the intimidating force, also counting on the subjugation and silence of the victims. The boss of Cortale – during the investigation – has repeatedly manifested the ties, even deep ones, with the leaders of the Anello-Fruci gang of Filadelfia, in particular with Vincenzino Fruci and Rocco Anello (class of '61), currently detained. But not only that: the investigators have also shed light on a cross-section of the "mafia management" of the territory of Cortale, Maida and Jacurso that Mimmo Cracolici exercises not only thanks to his blood ties with the homonymous family from Vibo Valentia, but above all to the teachings received from masters of the caliber of the Fruci brothers and the boss Rocco Anello himself.
Cars on behalf of Enzo Fruci
The wiretaps carried out by the pg on behalf of the Catanzaro Dda, have returned numerous confirmations regarding the very close relationship between Mimmo Cracolici and, in particular, Vincenzino Fruci, "going so far as to say, during one of the many conversations intercepted with the "partners" of Rosarno, that he actually grew up with them", the investigators note. Some time ago, for example, Cracolici allegedly gave Fruci two cars, a Mitsubishi Pajero and a Mini Cooper "so that he could try to sell them" the investigators note, but without success because, on July 21, 2020, he was arrested precisely as part of the Imponimento operation. A topic that returned to the fore in April 2022 during a conversation intercepted between Mimmo Cracolici and Domenico Berlingeri known as “Mimmo lo Zingaro” «who had brought to the site, with a tow truck, a Mini Cooper taken from Vincenzino Fruci’s wife», the investigators still note. In that same conversation, Berlingeri «in addition to being interested in purchasing a batch of marijuana», allegedly told Mimmo Cracolici that he wanted to get spare parts from that vehicle. Different story, however, for the Mitsubishi: Mimmo Cracolici, in fact, specified to his brother-in-law that he had taken it back from Vincenzino Fruci’s wife and had it repaired. And, even though he had left it to Fruci, the car was still registered in his name and, since he had not been paid for it in full, «he had preferred to take it back» also because «he had heard rumors about the latter’s possible collaboration with justice», the investigators still write.
Drug deals and decades of knowledge
"No, I grew up with them! With Pino and Vincenzo!" . This is how Mimmo Cracolici explained to Luigi Cutrì from Rosarnese his long-standing acquaintance with Fruci, also saying that he had "relationships with the two bosses of Acconia di Curinga, before their arrest in July 2020, for a consolidated drug trafficking", the investigators write. The relationships between Vincenzino Fruci and the people from Rosarnese were also dated, to the point of having taken two cars (a KIA and a Sorrento) "as a guarantee of payment for the goods, vehicles still in their possession", writes the prosecutor. "(...) three years ago when did we do all that? Damn the money... he brought us the money in bags, in envelopes you could say...". This is how Giuseppe Saffioti reported that he had known Vincenzi Fruci for at least ten years and that he and his group had sold him large quantities of narcotics.
Rocco Anello still commands
Another element that – according to the prosecution – would certify the consolidated relationship between Mimmo Cracolici and the Anello-Fruci is a particular anecdote that the boss tells Cortale, inside the “Catalano” bar of Francesco Catalano (class of '64) also among those arrested, with whom Mimmo would have entertained himself to discuss his judicial affairs and the trials in which he is currently accused.
It is the evening of June 7, 2023 and Mimmo Cracolici confides to the bartender that he met, at midday, some individuals to whom he would deliver an 'embassy.
(...) what can I say to him other than no to the guy in jail? He's still in charge, damn it... I got the embassy from Rocco... believe me, look, this is really the boss of bosses! There's no point in someone getting too high and doing...», Cracolici himself tells Catalano. The message to “not get carried away” was meant to be delivered to some individuals engaged in unspecified work, citing Rocco Anello himself who, despite his detention, still seems capable of “commanding” the territory.
Ielapi's disrespect
On this same occasion, Mimmo Cracolici tells Catalano another episode, with which he intended to convey the idea of ??the power and authority exercised by Rocco Anello. Apparently, in fact, the boss had «tasked him with organizing a meeting with Sandro Ielapi» the investigators report, to whom however there would have been «an unidentified individual indicated with the name of “Checco” and who had passed himself off as Ielapi» we read further, «without knowing that Rocco Anello knew Sandro perfectly». In fact, a lack of respect that had sent the boss into a rage: «(…) look, I had to kill him, I had killed the wrong person». Cracolici's story continues, still reporting to Catalano that he had personally witnessed the anger of Rocco Anello who, once confronted with Ielapi, would have reprimanded him in front of the wife of this “Giovanni the boss”. «Damn, how he ground him down in front of his wife, you know what he did to him! In front of his wife, in front of Giovanni “the Boss”… he tore him to pieces…». And again: «He told him “you mustn’t have anything with me! When I call you, you just fly!” (…) “otherwise I’ll get you out of my way, and you know how I’ll get you out” he told him, and he told him in front of me… and he told him “and don’t let it go to your head”». ( g.curcio@corrierecal.it )
