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From Mantella to Fortuna, the boom in informants in Vibo that shook the 'ndrangheta like an earthquake
The killer Francesco Fortuna is only the latest in a long list of collaborators of justice. The “change of direction” between investigations and operations
Published: 12/11/2024 – 10:45
VIBO VALENTIA The family bond and the archaic associative ties, pillars that have allowed the 'ndrangheta not to be "scratched" for decades by the numerous operations. Clans based on entire families with the criminal legacy that is passed down from father to sons raised on bread and 'ndrangheta. It is mainly thanks to these two factors that in its ten-year history the Calabrian organized crime has had few repentants . An aspect that has guaranteed its growth and its credibility especially abroad. "The 'ndrine are considered credible for their toughness and because over the years, compared to the number of 'ndranghetists, it has left behind very few collaborators of justice" explained the prosecutor Nicola Gratteri in an interview a few months ago. A context that makes the case of the 'ndrangheta in the province of Vibo Valentia even more emblematic, in the opposite sense: in the last 10 years a real "boom" of collaborators of justice , the latest being the Bonavota killer Francesco Fortuna. A prominent figure who joins the many others on whose statements the numerous investigations and hundreds of arrests have in fact been "shaped".
The regrets of Moscato and Mantella
The first strong “shock” of the earthquake that would soon shake the 'ndrangheta of Vibo Valentia was the repentance of Raffaele Moscato in 2015. At the top of the Piscopisani, his statements would lead to the disarticulation of the club rooted in the Vibo Valentia district, also shedding light on several murders and on the feud against the Mancuso-Patania. Moscato spoke of the intentions of the 'ndrina of Piscopio to “replace” the most powerful family of Limbadi. The same intentions that Andrea Mantella had set himself, with his group from Vibo Valentia , before deciding to take the plunge in 2016. Boss of the Lo Bianco clan, he had then “split” to create an autonomous group that, by virtue of alliances with other 'ndrine, such as the Bonavota, would have had to oppose the Mancuso. On his statements, those of Moscato and on the hearings of Bartolomeo Arena, another scion of the Vibo Valentia 'ndrangheta who repented in 2019, the maxi investigation Rinascita Scott will be set up, which will lead to the conviction of 207 people in the first degree. In these years, Giuseppe Comito , linked to the Mancuso and close to the Patania, who has spilled rivers of ink on the feud with the Piscopisani, will also repent. From the 'ndrangheta of the capital, Michele Camillò , a member of the family of the same name, and Gaetano Cannatà , belonging to the Lo Bianco – Barba clan, will follow .
The first Mancuso to repent
Even more emblematic and historic is the repentance of Emanuele Mancuso, former scion of the Limbadi clan of the same name, which occurred in the summer of 2018. The first to create a breach in the most powerful 'ndrina in Vibo and among the most powerful in Calabria. Above all because he is not simply an affiliate of the clan, but a member of the family. So much so that in various ways, especially with threats, attempts have been made to make him retrace his steps. A " triad " - that of Moscato, Mantella, Mancuso - of collaborations that triggered the earthquake in the 'ndrangheta of Vibo, since it involves the three most powerful and bloodthirsty 'ndrine in the province. They are joined by the figures of Bartolomeo Arena, who revealed the "new recruits" of the 'ndrine of the capital, and Nicola Figliuzzi , linked both to the crime of the Preserre and to the Patania of Stefanaconi. Between 2019 and 2020, Salvatore Schiavone , originally from Nicotera, as well as Renato Marziano , who was only recently made public. Also close to the Piscopisanis, he explained that he had «stopped believing in the values ??of loyalty and respect of the 'ndrangheta».
Boom in repentance in 10 years
Above all, Walter Loielo , a member of the homonymous family from Gerocarne, is the one who makes the Preserre 'ndrangheta tremble . He has shed light on several murders in the bloody feud against the Emanuele family, but also on that of his father Antonino Loielo, killed by his son for family reasons. In 2023, three heavy collaborations arrive, in what has been a "black" year for the Vibo Valentia clans between raids, investigations and the over 200 convictions of Rinascita Scott. But also and above all for the decision to repent by Antonio Accorinti, son of the alleged boss Nino and who was recently heard in the Maestrale trial, by Pasquale Megna , another prominent element linked to the Mancuso family, and above all by Onofrio Barbieri , at the top of the Bonavota 'ndrina of Sant'Onofrio. Barbieri himself revealed three murders, those of Alfredo and Raffaele Cracolici and Domenico Belsito. For this, Francesco Fortuna was convicted , the Bonavota killer who decided to follow the same path in the summer and collaborate with justice, news made public only yesterday. The latest in a long line: in just 10 years, almost all the 'ndrine of Vibo have been involved by at least one informer. Each, for different reasons, has broken a wall of silence that has lasted decades. "For too long, the State in Vibo has shown superficiality," said the prosecutor Camillo Falvo recently, underlining however the radical change of recent years. A change of direction, also marked by the numerous operations of the police, probably also perceived by those who, for different reasons, have decided to collaborate with justice.
