This week, the Palermo prosecutor asked 20 years for Carmelo Bartolone, considered head of Bagheria clan, 12 for Pietro Flamia, 7 for Luigi Di Salvo and Rosario La Mantia, 6 for Alessandro Vega and 2 for Antonio Lepre. The charges against them, for various reasons, are those of the Mafia association and extortion. For a seventh defendant, Gioacchino Di Bella, the absolution was instead requested.

The operation carried out by the carabinieri, followed a strong reaction from the part of the traders. Over thirty of them, decided to collaborate in order to free themselves from the mafia yoke and from the fear that caused them to oppose the lace, an illicit tax capable of gripping the whole local economic fabric.

The collaboration of some repentants like Sergio Flamia, Stefano Lo Verso and Antonino Zarcone, was fundamental during the investigations. Their contributions were used to frame the many pieces of the puzzle reconstructed by the DDA and the military.