EUROPE
Italian Prosecutor Fights the Mafia—and Fears for His Life
Nicola Gratteri leads a massive battle in impoverished Calabria against the Western world’s richest crime syndicate, as heavy security protects him from threats

https://www.wsj.com/articles/italian-prosecutor-fights-the-mafiaand-fears-for-his-life-11579948200

Italian arrested in Holland with 34 kilos of cocaine
He was wanted in Belgium
Category: News | VariousDate: 24.01.20| |

The Dutch police in a joint action by the Belgian police and the Royal Maréchaussée, arrested a 33-year-old Italian on the A16 motorway near Breda. The man carried 34 kilos of cocaine, hidden in a secret compartment inside the vehicle, for an estimated value of 1.2 million euros. The Italian, of which no other details were disclosed, was arrested Thursday afternoon, in a joint action by the Dutch and Belgian police. During the investigation, the man will remain in prison. He was already wanted in Belgium, because he was held responsible for several crimes.

After the "Rebirth-Scott" operation, which broke the "wires" that connect 'Ndrangheta and diverted Freemasonry the enemy number one is now the chief prosecutor of Catanzaro, Nicola Gratteri. Precisely for this fact, the magistrate is facing an even higher risk than in the past. That's why for some days the prosecutor's escort has been strengthened.

Gratteri is doing some serious damage to the Ndrangheta, y'all think they are going to kill him?

Only if they become really desperate, but there will be a maxi process with hundreds of suspects similar to the maxi trials in Palermo in the 80s they hold Gratteri responsible for this.

murdering Gratteri would be like committing suicide...

Mafia boss with ties to GTA arrests found dead in prison cell, Italian media reports | The Star

https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/20...s-found-dead-in-italian-prison-cell.html

In Lombardy, Piedmont, Lazio, Valle d'Aosta and Calabria, an order issued by the Milan investigating magistrate, an operation today against 20 people accused, for various reasons, of a criminal association aimed at a tax fraud of over 160 million euros, extortion, usury.

In particular, 18 arrests and seizures were carried out for over 34 million euros. A criminal organization was also dismantled, also made up of subjects close to members of a 'Ndranghetista family rooted and operating in Lombardy for a long time and to a criminal group of Calabrian origin operating in the Lombard capital.

The investigations have allowed to discover a complex 'VAT carousel fraud in the telecommunications sector with the use of a dense network of' cartierè and 'filtered companies, in EU and non-EU countries, registered as nominees with precedents also by association of mafia type and drug trafficking.

They really don't care about the consequences. According to the indiscretions of the local authorities, the most important gangs of 'Ndrangheta have already activated themselves by appointing a killer who should assassinate the prosecutor.
But who wants the death of the chief prosecutor of the DDA of Catanzaro? According to investigators, the suspicions would lead straight to that Mafia-Masonic "system" that Gratteri in Calabria wants to eliminate.
It is not the first time that the chief prosecutor of Catanzaro is the favorite target of the 'ndrine. In several interceptions, there were clear threats of an attack on the magistrate.

‘Ndrangheta bust: Police arrest 18 Calabrian Mafia figures, charge them with €160 million fraud http://gangstersinc.ning.com/profil...rest-18-calabrian-mafia-figures-charge-t

Exactly, state will go all over 'Ndrangheta and whole Mafia-Masonic "system", and more powerful masonic lodges from Rome will leave the ship as it sinks and leave calabrians to go down. Pretty much same thing that happened to Sicilian mafia and their freemasons back in 1990's

The difference with Falcone is, he became isolated and had many enemies within Rome. Gratteri has a strong support among the people and the powers in Rome. However the threat against him has never been bigger because he now goes after the people who control Calabria, first they try other things to discredit him. But they now openly call him a walking dead.

The difference also should consider that Calabria is attached to main land Italy, while Sicily is an island to itself.

The shear tactics of both sides in their attack will vary for those reasons.

Calabria and Sicily are very similar.

Never thought that they wouldn’t love to kill him, or that they aren’t capable of carrying it out, because of course they are. All I’m saying is that the consequences of such a major assassination in 2020 would be massively negative for anyone involved.

One of the reasons why Calabrians are well liked (crime-wise) by other organizations is their no-nonsense attitude. Make money no headlines. When you gotta be violent then be shockingly violent to scare possible rivals off, but always measure the pros and cons of your actions.

For instance, due to the Duisburg massacre you basically had two major ‘ndrine being highly investigated and eventually decapitated. Not to mention that before that massacre nobody almost knew what the ‘ Ndrangheta was. It was international news. Everything changed after that. For all ndrine not just the ones involved. The world, and especially Italy, started to focus on the Ndrangheta and address it on the public and political stage for the very first time.

I agree with you that they are similar in ideology, methods, practices, more than likely part of one system.

In attempting to kill a member of LE or arrest a fugitive, the island of Sicily, limits the escape routes. Which in theory should make either easier, arresting fugitives in Sicily has been hard, killing LE seemed easy for the Corleonesi. However, I doubt that it was accomplished without involvement for members spread out through Italy and World.

If the Ndragheta is successful, it’s gonna involve the same mechanics, and type of people.

The Italian State is going after them now full force, but this 'war' on the 'Ndrangheta can not continue without some kind of response, the disregard for the government is already strong in Calabria. I'm not sure how the State could take control of Calabria anyway, sending more soldiers?

Today maxi blitz against the ‘Ndrangheta of Reggio Calabria city, the powerful Labate gang “Ti Mangiu” beheaded, 14 arrests on charges of mafia-type association, extortion and money laundering. After the arrest of the boss Pietro Labate in 2012 the clan was led by his brother Antonino.

Has there ever been anything similar from the State like this, regarding Napoli??Camorra?

Spartacus trial? Or are you referring to something else? I might have misunderstood your question

A similar scenario, like the one currently with the Ndragheta and LE, and Falcone/Borsellino and Cosa Nostra, but involving the Camorra?

I am unfamiliar with the Spartacus trial, I apologize.

'Ndrangheta, threats in prison to the repentant son of the boss Mancuso and Gratteri

| 29 JAN. 2020 16:02 |
CATANZARO - Threats and insults were addressed by some inmates, in the prison of Catanzaro, to the collaborator of justice Emanuele Mancuso and the chief prosecutor of Catanzaro, Nicola Gratteri, in the aftermath of the decision of the exponent of the homonymous clan of the 'ndrangheta of Limbadi to "empty the bag" with the anti-mafia magistrates ( READ THE NEWS ). This is what was told this morning, during the "Nemea" trial against the Soriano di Filandari clan, by the collaborator of justice connected in video conference with the bunker room of the new Court of Vibo Valentia.

READ: THE PRESSURE OF RELATIVES ON THE PENTITO, ARRESTED

In the prison of Siano, in Catanzaro, on 18 June 2018 Emanuele Mancuso was moved to an isolation cell, which had given certainty to the other inmates of the start of the collaboration with the justice of the son of the boss Pantaleone Mancuso, called " the Engineer ". On 19 June 2018, therefore, the screams, threats and insults of the detainees addressed to Emanuele Mancuso and the prosecutor Nicola Gratteri would start from the windows of the cells of the prison of Catanzaro.

LAWS: MANCUSO IN THE CLASSROOM TELLS REPENTANCE

Subsequently, in prison talks, Emanuele Mancuso's girlfriend, on behalf of the Mancuso family himself, would offer the repentant cash money and the possibility of opening a bar in Spain as long as he retracted all the charges. All useless, because Emanuele Mancuso has not interrupted the collaboration becoming the first repentant in the history of the Mancuso family, one of the most powerful clans of the whole 'Ndrangheta.

Thing is, they can't focus on 'Ndrangheta with full force because that would allow Sicilian mafia to grow.

Italy and INTERPOL launch global project to combat 'Ndrangheta
30 January 2020

Focus will be enhancing the ability of law enforcement to identify their activities and dismantle one of the most extensive and powerful criminal organizations in the world

REGGIO CALABRIA, Italy – Today saw the launch of the INTERPOL Cooperation Against ‘Ndrangheta (I-CAN) project, a joint initiative with Italy to combat the increasingly insidious and global threat of mafia-type crime.

Funded by the Italian Department of Public Security, the project will focus on the 'Ndrangheta which is the most extensive and powerful criminal organization in the world.

Present in 32 Countries, 17 of which are European, the 'Ndrangheta is supported by its enormous financial power built mainly on drug trafficking, corruption and the diversion of public funds through fraud and rigged contracts.

"We need a global approach to counter a global threat. We have promoted a targeted project with INTERPOL for a global attack to eradicate it, involving the State Police, the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza,” said Prefect Vittorio Rizzi, Deputy Director General of Public Security.

Prefect Vittorio Rizzi, Deputy Director General of Public Security and Central Director of the Italian Criminal Police at the launch of the I-CAN project in Reggio Calabria.

Whilst the project will initially be focusing on specific countries, the ultimate goal of the I-CAN project is to enhance the ability of law enforcement worldwide to more effectively identify and combat mafia-type organizations.

I-CAN will be developed across three pillars;

Content – Building on Italy’s direct experience and knowledge of the threat posed by Ndrangheta, its structure and how it operates.
Access - Making this vital policing information available to the targeted countries, in order to identify patterns, trends and potential targets for law enforcement.
Action - Coordination of joint investigations with national law enforcement to identify and arrest individuals wanted in connection with Ndrangheta-linked activities.
“The Ndrangheta is among the richest and most powerful organized crime groups. It has repeatedly proven its skill in infiltrating political and economic environments, and a remarkable capacity for corruption,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock.

“Whilst there have been successes at the bilateral level, the I-CAN project will see increased cooperation and operational activity between countries using INTERPOL as a global platform,” added the INTERPOL Chief.

INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock said the I-CAN project will see increased cooperation and operational activity between countries using INTERPOL as a global platform.

How the 'Ndrangheta works
Profits are reinvested using sophisticated money laundering techniques. In many countries what appears to be ‘clean’ funding eventually has the effect of polluting, corrupting and strangling the economy as it changes the mechanisms of competition and drives honest entrepreneurs out of the market.

The control of public procurement does not usually involve violence or intimidation but is through the establishment of companies which use collusion and corruption.

The 'Ndrangheta has acquired direct or indirect control of companies operating across all areas of society including the construction, catering, import and export, transport, gaming and betting, waste collection and disposal businesses.

Taking advantage of advances in technology, the 'Ndrangheta also uses the deepweb and Darknet to carry out illicit commerce.

https://www.interpol.int/News-and-E...unch-global-project-to-combat-Ndrangheta

'Ndrangheta: Cassation acquits, after 26 years in prison, the' boss of two worlds' Commisso
Published: 30 January 2020

Reggio Calabria. Cosimo Commisso, for the investigators, he was "the boss of the two worlds", the top of the homonymous' ndrangheta family of Siderno with tentacles extended to Canada. Two days ago, however, the Court of Cassation, confirming the appeal sentence issued a year ago and rejecting the appeal of the general prosecutor of Naples, acquitted him "for not having committed the fact" 27 years after the arrest and after 26 spent behind bars. To write it is the Gazzetta del Sud, which recalls that the "boss of two worlds", born in 1950, was believed to be the instigator of 5 murders and 3 attempted murders committed between May 1989 and July 1991 during the so-called " feud of Siderno ". Cosimo Commisso is currently detained because he is accused by a collaborator of justice in the context of the investigation "

'Ndrangheta, Tamunga and Ciccio Pakistan, the wanted super bosses who disappeared from Milan
The 'Ndranghetists Rocco Morabito, who owes 30 years in prison for drug trafficking, and Francesco Pelle, with a final life sentence for the San Luca feud, both disappeared in June 2019

Both lived in Milan, although in very different periods.

https://milano.corriere.it/notizie/...b4ca-26f0f6d5d911.shtml?intcmp=exit_page

Domenico Russo (37), from Corigliano Rossano, survived a murder attempt last night. The shooting took place shortly after 7 pm in the historic center of the Ausonic area of ​​the new municipality in the province of Cosenza. The man was seriously injured. It would have been a settlement of accounts within the old Coriglianese clan. Russo was the driver of Pietro Longobucco, the boss killed and found dead, last year, aboard a van in the waters of the port of Schivonea.

Over 500 mafia members on the run, says Italian police
January 30, 2020

Rome – There are almost 500 members of Italian Mafia groups who are on the run from justice, Italian police data released on Thursday.

The deputy head of the Italian police, Vittorio Rizzi, said the total number of fugitives is 498, including 55 for whom international arrest warrants were issued via Interpol, and 134 who belong to the fearsome ‘Ndrangheta Mafia.

The data was published in conjunction with an international police conference on the ‘Ndrangheta called I-Can (Interpol Cooperation against `Ndrangheta).

“We need a global approach to combat a worldwide threat,’’ Rizzi said about the ‘Ndrangheta.

The conference is taking place in Reggio Calabria, the main city of Calabria, the impoverished southern region from which the ‘Ndrangheta originates.

“The Calabrian mob is the world’s most powerful crime group, operating in 32 countries across Europe, Africa, the Americas and Oceania, and the main broker on the world drug market,’’ Italian police said.

Report says part of the ‘Ndrangheta’s strength comes from its highly secretive structure, with members bound by family ties.

“This makes it particularly difficult to penetrate by law enforcement authorities.

“Out of almost 1,200 Mafia turncoats working with authorities, 42 per cent come from the Neapolitan Camorra, 22 per cent from Sicily’s Cosa Nostra, and only 15 per cent from the ‘Ndrangheta,’’ police said.

They also said the top of the ‘Ndrangheta’s hierarchical structure is made up of the “Santa,” a secret committee whose members “are not known even to the bosses” further down in the chain of command.

(dpa/NAN)

https://sundiatapost.com/over-500-mafia-members-on-the-run-says-italian-police/

Would another country have to get involved to untangle the web between the mafia and the Freemasons(some of which are powerful members of the deep state)? The Sicilians and Calabrese are especially involved with Freemasons. Some Camorra families might be too.

You can only succeed when there's international cooperation, the INTERPOL Cooperation Against ‘Ndrangheta (I-CAN) project, is a good first step. But there also has to be stronger laws against diverted freemasonry. A total ban on masonic lodges is not necessary, just go after the bad apples.