Mafias
The weekly magazine “Gente”: “Giovanni Motisi, the last Cosa Nostra boss at large, died in Colombia. But the investigations do not confirm

by FQ | March 3, 2025

The weekly magazine Gente had given him up for dead in a clinic in Cali, Colombia. But the Palermo Prosecutor's Office has not found confirmation of the death of Giovanni Motisi , 66, the last major fugitive from the Cosa Nostra massacre phase , wanted since 1998. Totò Riina's hitman, former district boss of the Pagliarelli neighborhood, must serve a life sentence for the murder of the deputy head of the Palermo Flying Squad Ninni Cassarà, killed by Kalashnikov on August 6, 1985 together with the agent Roberto Antiochia . In recent weeks, on behalf of the prosecutors of the Palermo District Anti-Mafia Directorate, the Police interviewed Antonello Zappadu , a Sardinian photojournalist and author of the article, who said he learned of the godfather's death from a mediator he was in contact with for an interview. Zappadu also indicated the name of the clinic where the boss, who he said was ill with pancreatic cancer, was admitted. The investigations of the SCO (Central Operations Service), however, did not confirm the statements : Motisi, therefore, remains wanted.

Anti-mafia operation "Old Horse" in the province of Catania against the Santapaola-Ercolano crime family, police arrested 9 members on charges of mafia-type association, extortion and drug trafficking. The investigation has allowed us to reconstruct the hegemony of the Santapaola-Ercolano mafia family between the municipalities of San Pietro Clarenza and Belpasso. In the investigators' sights, the specific interests linked to extortion for debt collection and drug dealing.

Vito Turriciano of Castellammare released from prison, mafia conviction lapses
In 2016 he was sentenced to 12 years, after three trials he is released because the fact does not exist

by Editorial Staff

March 08, 2025


Vito Turriciano
The Court of Appeal of Caltanissetta has accepted the request for review of the conviction for mafia association against Vito Turriciano, of Castellammare del Golfo, ordering his immediate release . Turriciano had been sentenced to 12 years in prison by the Court of Palermo in 2016, which had found him responsible, in addition to the crime of association, also for two attempted extortions committed in the context of the alleged activity of the mafia group.

Turriciano was accused, together with Mariano Saracino and others, of having formed a new mafia group in the territory of Castellammare del Golfo, opposed to the one led by Francesco Domingo, to control the concrete market and the local public procurement system. An initial request for review was rejected by the Court of Caltanissetta, which considered the different reconstruction of the facts presented by the lawyers Baldassare Lauria and Caterina Gruppuso to be unfounded. According to the defense, in fact, the contested new mafia group was never formed, and the facts that the defendants were accused of were in any case decontextualized from organized crime. Turricciano remains convicted of attempted extortion, for which he has amply served his sentence.

Castellammare del Golfo is still a force in Cosa Nostra.

Messina Denaro's Driver's Companies and Assets Seized: Worth 3 Million

Giovanni Luppino was Matteo Messina Denaro's driver , his sons Vincenzo and Antonio were allegedly part of the network of supporters of the godfather of Castelvetrano during his time as a fugitive. Now all three have been seized of assets worth more than 3 million euros.

The Preventive Measure section of the Trapani court ordered it, accepting the request of the Palermo District Anti-Mafia Directorate headed by Maurizio de Lucia. The asset investigations are based on the work of the financial police of the Palermo provincial command.

The Economic and Financial Police Unit led by Colonel Carlo Pappalardo has reconstructed the financial profile of Luppino , already sentenced to nine years and two months in prison, and his family. A constant flow of money in favor of the fugitive would have emerged.

Two companies in Campobello di Mazara dealing with the production of oil and the marketing of fruit and vegetables , seven properties, including apartments and land in Campobello di Mazara and Castelvetrano, three bank accounts and a motor vehicle were seized .

https://livesicilia.it/trapani-sequestro-aziende-autista-messina-denaro-giovanni-luppino-mafia/

Mafia and extortion, blitz between Catania and Messina: 39 arrests

CATANIA – Mafia, the shadow of the Cappello – Cintorrino clan on Catania and Messina . Vast operation by the Guardia di Finanza and Carabinieri between the two provinces; 39 arrests made.

Two prosecutors in the field, 39 people in handcuffs, accused, to varying degrees, of "mafia-style criminal association, association for the purpose of drug trafficking". Contested "numerous episodes of drug dealing, extortion, robbery, unauthorized access to devices suitable for communication by detained subjects".

The crimes are aggravated "because they were committed with mafia methods or with the aim of facilitating the "Cappello - Cintorrino" clan - and fraudulent transfer of assets".

https://livesicilia.it/mafia-estorsioni-blitz-catania-messina-39-arresti/

Grudges and feuds, war between the pavilions of Zen 2 in Palermo

Old and new recruits would face off to establish who is in charge after the anti-mafia raid with 181 arrests

These are no longer random or localized events but a trail of violence that seems to respond to a very specific logic. Gunshots, stabbings and fires at the Zen in Palermo: all in the space of a few days, as if an underground war had been triggered for control of the territory, probably to reaffirm control over drug dealing areas and the clandestine betting ring. The maxi-blitz, which landed 181 people in prison, left a power vacuum and now someone is apparently trying to fill it. The latest episode dates back to yesterday, when about twenty gunshots were fired at the shutter of a garage in Via Fausto Coppi. A few meters away the carabinieri found some ammunition hidden in a manhole, further evidence of a climate of growing tension. The place hit by the buckshot is thought to be linked to a woman close to one of those arrested in the carabinieri anti-mafia operation. The hypothesis is that it could be a warning or a message - very clear indeed - sent by someone who is trying to reorganize the business after the beheading of the gang.

https://palermo.gds.it/articoli/cro...mo-52f14c25-510c-42e4-9557-530e86c228fe/

Catania, the port and drugs from South America: blitz, six arrests

https://livesicilia.it/catania-porto-droga-sud-america-blitz-sei-arresti-nomi/

Mafia and drugs in Palermo, 26 sentences for over two centuries of prison THE NAMES AND THE PENALTIES
The investigation a year ago dealt a heavy blow to the sale of narcotics in the Sperone and Brancaccio neighborhoods

by Editorial Staff

March 20, 2025

The preliminary hearing judge of Palermo Cristina Lo Bue has sentenced a total of 26 people accused, on various counts, of association for the purpose of drug trafficking aggravated by mafia methods and drug dealing to over two centuries in prison. The trial was held in an abbreviated manner.

The investigation that led to the trial, coordinated by the district anti-mafia directorate headed by prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia, dealt a heavy blow to drug dealing in the Sperone and Brancaccio neighborhoods a year ago. In order to enter the drug "strongholds", undercover agents were employed who managed to have contacts with the leaders of the criminal group that managed the dealing. The investigation also ascertained Cosa Nostra's interests in the distribution of profits from the illicit activity. During the checks it was discovered that the sale of the drug took place 24 hours a day, with a rigid organization of the shifts of pushers and lookouts.

The sentences
These are the sentences decided by the judge: 9 years and 4 months for Salvatore Agnello, 8 years and 2 months for Davide Anselmo, 10 years and 10 months for Davide Giuseppe Arduino, 14 years and 4 months for Nicola Argeri, 20 years for Pietro Argeri, 14 years and 6 months for Samuele Argeri, 12 for Alessio Salvo Caruso, 6 years and 8 months for Maria Chiappara, 18 years for Sebastiano Chiappara. Daniela Chiovaro was sentenced to 4 years, Paolo Chiovaro to 8 years, Salvatore Cipolla to 2 years and 8 months, Salvatore Fiorentino to 4 years, Luigi Iemmito to 6 years and 9 months, Gaetano Ingrassia to 19 years and 3 months, Isidoro Lo Nardo to 8 years and 2 months, Giuseppe Lucchese to 7 years, Vincenzo Lucchese to 5 years and 4 months, Pietro Mazza to 17 years and 9 months, Antonino Messina to 4 years, Francesco Messina to 5 years and 9 months, Salvatore Messina to 10 years and 4 months. Salvatore Navarra was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months, Antonino Ricotta to 10 years and 4 months, Girolamo Tarantino to 11 years and 8 months and Salvatore Zora to 8 years and 4 months.

Mafia enemy of democracy says Meloni on Victims' Day
We fight organized crime every day says premier

ROME, 21 March 2025, 11:08

ANSA English Desk

Premier Giorgia Meloni stressed her government's commitment to fighting organized crime on Friday, Italy's National Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Mafia.
"Italy and its institutions bow before the sacrifice of those who have lost their lives at the hands of organized crime: honest citizens, servants of the State, innocent people who have fallen under the cowardly blows of a spineless, ruthless yoke," Meloni said on social media.
"The mafias are a declared enemy of our democracy, an offence to the dignity of the nation.
"For this reason we reiterate our condemnation of every type of mafia and we commit ourselves to fighting it every day with absolute determination and firmness".

Mafia can be defeated says Mattarella on Victims' Day
It depends on us says president

ROME, 21 March 2025, 10:54

ANSA English Desk

Italy should not resign itself to never freeing itself of the scourge of organized crime, President Sergio Mattarella said on Friday, the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Mafia.
"The names of mafia victims are part of our collective memory, and it is to them that, first of all, we renew our commitment to fight the mafias, starting from the public institutions to the places of everyday life, overcoming resignation and indifference, which are the allies of those who are violent and who are bullies," said Mattarella.
"The mafia can be defeated.

It depends on us: many shining examples confirm this.
"March 21 is a solemn day of remembrance and civil commitment to affirm values that are essential to the health of our community.
"The daily commitment to practice legality, to fight against all mafias, against the criminal syndicates that generate violence and oppression, against grey areas of complicity that favour their business and their spread, involves the work of all citizens who wish to live in a cohesive society that respects everyone's rights".

The pizza chef, the barber, the beach club managers, the florist: all in line with the bosses

PALERMO – There were lines to ask the bosses for small and large favors. The merchants were the first to recognize the mafia authority. And the bigwigs of the various districts of the city worked hard to satisfy the requests. It was and is worth their prestige.

The latest investigations by the Palermo District Anti-Mafia Directorate once again show pockets of cities that are struggling to turn the page. Some have no intention of freeing themselves. The result: the mafiosi continue to regulate the life of entire neighborhoods. They establish who must sell a product, authorize the opening of new businesses and curb competition, resolve disputes between private individuals who ask for help.

https://livesicilia.it/palermo-pizzeria-salumeria-lidi-commercianti-mafia/