BACKGROUND 6

GENERAL OVERVIEW 6

A. Preventive activities - Chart 12

B. Judicial activities - Chart 14

PART I 15

THE FIGHT AGAINST MAFIA-TYPE ORGANIZED CRIME 15

1. A. COSA NOSTRA 15
   
   1. The situation in the provinces 17
   
   1a. Palermo 18
   
   1b. Trapani 19
   
   1c. Agrigento 20
   
   1d. Catania 21
   
   1e. Siracusa 22
   
   1f. Messina 24
   
   1g.Caltanissetta 25
   
   1h. Enna 26
   
   1i. Ragusa 27
   
   2. Economic activities 28
   
   3. Position at an international level 34
   
   4. Analytical studies 36
   
   
2. B. CAMORRA 37
   
   1. The situation in the provinces 39
   
   1a. The province of Naples 39
   
   1b. The province of Caserta 41
   
   1c. The province of Avellino 42
   
   1d.The province of Benevento 42
   
   1e. The province of Salerno 42
   
   2. Analytical Studies 43
   
   
3. C. ‘NDRANGHETA 44
   
   1. Provincial situations 46
   
   1a. The province of Catanzaro 46
   
   1b. The province of Cosenza 44
   
   1c. The province of Crotone 49
   
   1d. The province of Reggio Calabria 50
   
   1e. The province of Vibo Valentia 51
   
   2. Analytical studies 52.
   
   
4. D. APULIAN ORGANIZED CRIME 57
   
   1. Provincial situations 57
   
   1a. The province of Bari 57
   
   1b. The province of Brindisi 60
   
   1c. The province of Foggia 60
   
   1d. The province of Lecce 62
   
   1e. The province of Taranto 63
   
   2. Foreign cigarette smuggling 64
   
   3. Analytical studies 68
   
   
5. E. FOREIGN ORGANIZED CRIME 69
   
   1. General 69
   
   2. Former USSR Organized Crime 72
   
   3. Albanian Organized crime 73
   
   4. Nigerian Organized Crime 75
   
   5. Chinese Organized Crime 77
   

PART II 80

PREVENTIVE INVESTIGATIONS 80

1. A. THE FIGHT AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING 80
   
   1. Suspicious Transactions Reporting 80
   
   2. International Relations 81
   
   
2. B. CONTROL OF TENDERS 83
   
   
3. C. EXTORTIONS 84
   
   
4. D. APLLICATION OF THE SPECIAL INCARCERATION REGIME 85
   
   
5. E. DEFENCE OF INDIGENTS 86
   
   
6. F. PREVENTIVE INVESTIGATIONS CONDUCTED THROUGH
   
   THE EXERCISE OF POWERS ENTRUSTED TO THE DIA DIRECTOR 86
   
   1. Proposed preventive measures 87
   
   2. Applied preventive measures 88

PART III 89

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES 89

1. A. Cooperation with national and international bodies 91
   
   
2. B. Bilateral cooperation 94
   
   1. Countries of the American continent 94
   
   2. Australia 95
   
   3. European Union Countries 95
   
   4. European Countries 99
   
   
3. C. Other initiatives 100.PART IV 103
   

MANAGEMENT OF THE DIA 103

OMISSIS 103

ENCLOSURE 104

POLICE OPERATIONS 104

1. A. COSA NOSTRA 104
   
   1. Operation Dioniso 104
   
   2. Operation Calatino 104
   
   3. Operation Cobra 105
   
   4. Operation Alba Due 105
   
   
2. B. CAMORRA 105
   
   1. Operation Ametista 105
   
   2. Operation Cielo azzurro 106
   
   1. Operation Grillo 106
   
   2. Operation Project 107
   
   
3. C. ‘NDRANGHETA 107
   
   1. Operation Istrice 107
   
   2. Operation Larice 2 108
   
   
4. D. APULIAN ORGANIZED CRIME 108
   
   1. Operation Crna Gora 108
   
   2. Operation Orso 108
   
   
5. E. FOREIGN ORGANIZED CRIME 109
   
   1. Operation Danubio Blu 2 109
   
   2. Operation Picco 2 109
   
   3. Operation Random 109
   
   4. Operation Seta 110
   
   5. Operation Staffetta 110
   
   6. Operation Testimone 111
   
   7. Operation Tosca 112
   
   8. Operation Ramo d’Oriente 112
   
   9. Operation Vlada 113.
   
   
6. F. MONEY LAUNDERING 113
   
   1. Operation Malocchio 113
   
   2. Operation Paladino 114.
   

BACKGROUND

GENERAL OVERVIEW

This Document is submitted, according to Article 5 of the Law Nr. 410/91, in order to report about " the activities conducted and the results obtained (during the period January-June 2001) by the Direzione Investigativa Antimafia", entrusted with the task (according to Article 3 of the Law Nr. 10/91) "of ensuring that preventive investigations concerning organized crime are conducted in a coordinated way, as well as conducting criminal investigations concerning exclusively mafia-type criminal association offenses or anyway concerning this type of criminal association".
The results obtained during this half year, both concerning preventive investigations and criminal investigations, are reported, in order to facilitate access and to make a synopsis, in the following two reports, whereas the most significant police operations are synoptically reported in the Appendix.
Moreover, Part I and Part II describe in further detail the anti-mafia activity.
The four main mafia organizations existing in Italy (cosa nostra, camorra, ‘ndrangheta and Apulian organized crime), although they maintain their traditional models in the territories under their control, have not been able to avoid, at various levels, the impact, which is sometimes perverse, caused by the significant migration flows to Italy through the introduction of criminal groups, on an ethnic basis, that gradually increased their influence and strengthened their activities.In further detail:.?? cosa nostra, with reference to the level of dismantlement that affected the respective criminal families as a result of the counteraction conducted by the government, attempted to reestablish its internal organization in order to regain a balance, also due to the pressure applied by newly formed forces. In order to subdivide the internal levels, so as to increase the impermeability at the top, which was seriously affected during the years following the “slaughterers’” period, and to increase the security of the structure as the globalization of the markets is attracting the big international crime circuits and offering them opportunities to make profits and reinvest illicit proceeds. As a result of this reorganization of cosanostra, the resources available are likely to be better used and new significant profits to be made, also taking into account the significant public works that will be required in order to harmonize the national infrastructures to the European standards. There are indications, however weak, of a less strict control by the traditional leaderships, as a result of the long incarceration of several “historical”
leaders as well as of the slow generation changes that could unsettle the balance between crime families and cause a new start of conflictsa. However, the families are still solid and united because of the expectations created by the accurate leadership by Provenzano, based on consensus and harmonization of intents, a stable condition that is more difficult to achieve but that, once established, is certainly longer lasting..However, in the regions that are traditionally controlled by this criminal organization, the links to emerging foreign criminal organizations are occasional
and unsignificant; ?? the camorra is still an extremely slender, flexible and changeable criminal organization, able to modify its aims and modus operandi very easily, according to strategic or tactical requirements based on the significance of economic businesses. Without a solid and hegemonic authority, this organization is subdivided into a large number of groups, whose membership is usually based on family links, often difficult to manage within the same family. This organization is increasingly using ordinary criminals, often very young people, in order to commit criminal offenses, sometimes of a high profile, achieved through very violent actions, often disproportionate as compared to the unsignificant results attained. Mainly this organization is engaged in traditional criminal activities also in new areas as, for example, the meat or flowers markets; the ‘ndrangheta, whose presence on the regional territory represents a threat to various degrees, recently created a unitary leading structure, thus copying, through the creation of mandamenti, the traditional organization models of cosa nostra. This reorganization allegedly aims at reducing the bloody internal fights by entrusting the most important decisions to a single body and to significantly improve the management of the high amount of economic.business. The main profit sources stem from large-scale national and international trafficking activities in narcotics, arms, public contracts and extortions, that require branches and connections outside the region;
?? Apulian organized crime: - this is an organization made up of crime families scattered most areas of this Italian region, that are characterized by the small number of members, a limited territory (often the city or, in the case of big towns, even districts), the adoption of criminal methods and strategies that are typical of large mafia organizations and a strong autonomy, which are all factors that increase conflicts between different groups;
- this organization mainly operates in a temporary absence of a unitarian hierarchical leadership; the current criminal general overview is cxharacterized by a large network od criminal groups that, according to their various criminal deals, especially smuggling, interact between one another as well as with other Italian and foreign criminal organizations, mainly of a Kosovo-Albanian ethnic origin. This “external opening” process was not accompanied by a parallel expansion and consolidating process of the Apulian criminal groups abroad; in fact, these groups settled almost exclusively in those countries of the European continent having a coast on the Adriatic sea; - foreign criminal organizations, mainly Russian, Albanian, Nigerian and Chinese, generally show various degrees of penetration in the territory,.increasing settlements and, most of all, strong links to their respective countries of origin, by sometimes being “terminals” of these countries in order to conduct criminal activities, especially in the field of illegal immigration flows and connected offenses. Anyway, these organizations are currently characterized by a lack of control over the territory as conducted by traditional mafia organizations, with a threatening ability that normally surfaced within the respective communities and the fact that in
the case of certain ethnic groups, for example the Chinese, the victims of their criminal activities are their own compatriots. Analysis conducted to this day, as regards modus operandi, is affected by the framented knowledge of the phenomenon of foreign organized crime as a whole, since also international institutions, in facing the problems arising in this field are often – due to a lack of elements and of a commons legislation – copy national models that are not applicable to criminal structures that are extremely complex and sophisticated and operate at an international or global level. For example, it is worth mentioning money laundering and econmic crime in general, or trafficking in human beings. In this last case, there are several criminal organizations, that are somehow interdependent, that provide anything that is required in order to transport immigrants all the way from the country of origin to the country of destination..As a result, it will be possible to effectively fight against these large-scale phenomena, having a wide scope, when the interested countries will adopt a common criminal legislation, but especially when a joint and coordinated counteraction will be started and will not be affected by the limitations currently existing because of the differences in the investigative methods used by the various countries of the European Union. Part III describes the activities conducted at an international level for institutional purposes. The conclusion of this Report is the usual part dealing with the management of the Agency..

PREVENTIVE ACTIVITIES

.B. JUDICIAL ACTIVITIES

*The assets seized according to Article 321 of the Italian Criminal Procedure Code, can be handled
separately in order to apply property-related preventive measures and, as a result, can be seized also
according to Law nr. 575/65..PART I

THE FIGHT AGAINST MAFIA-TYPE ORGANIZED CRIME
A. COSA NOSTRA

In order to examine the current situation of the Sicilian organized crime, it is necessary to go back to October 31, 1995, when in the countryside in Mezzojuso (PA), Luigi ILARDO met Bernardo PROVENZANO. ILARDO, a prominent figure of “cosa nostra” in the province of Caltanissetta, was a cooperating witness and had agreed to act in an undercover capacity; thus, he had successfully established a contact with PROVENZANO with whom, until that moment, he had been communicating exclusively through written notes that were delivered by trusted courriers. According to ILARDO’s subsequent statements, during that meeting PROVENZANO said that in a 5-7 year-period, “cosa nostra” would be able to regain the quietness required in order to manage its business and, as a result, to improve the economic situation which was, for the time being, very unstable. Thus, the period which was announced at that time by PROVENZANO to achieve the reorganization of the structure, seems to be ending and, in fact, “cosa nostra”
currently seems to be restored.
Bernardo PROVENZANO is still considered to be the current leader of the organization.
This indication, which was gathered at an investigation level, directly comes from within “cosa nostra”. Indeed, based on the assessments made by members of the.organization, PROVENZANO is still the figure able to meet the highest degree of consensus among the members. These, who have to deal every day with a complex system of opposing interests and of territorial “competences” in order to conduct their deals, consider PROVENZANO as a guarantee of the stability of the organization, and indeed, fear that his arrest would cause an “…industrial revolution…” since “…as soon as they get him…the war will be over…”.
There were also people who, while making assessments about possible disinvestments that a fugitive would be able to achieve, stated that, in their opinion, the above-mentioned subject would probably maintain everything as it was, since “…PROVENZANO will get eighty…”, thus meaning that the “political” stability
guaranteed by PROVENZANO will probably be having positive effects on business for a long period of time. These are statements made by mafia members that it is worth considering, although it is necessary to make a further comment based on investigation results.
The arrest of PROVENZANO, who is the intermediary par excellence in the frequent disputes between “men of honour” for reasons of economic interest, would probably cause local conflicts, also of a very violent nature.
However, there is reason to believe that such a serious crisis would be overcome, since it appears that PROVENZANO already took care, as already mentioned in the past, of creating a leading group made up of figures who are able, based on their experience and authority, to replace him effectively also as far as the moderation of internal conflicts is concerned..As regards the “reorganization” of “cosa nostra” or rather, the degree to which this was achieved, the following indicators will be examined: - internal situation of “cosa nostra”; - illicit economic activities currently conducted; - position of “cosa nostra” at an international level.
1. The situation in the provinces The situation of cosa nostra, as regards its organization, has not changed as compared to the year 2000. The organization on the territory has been well defined and, with the exception of some possible incidental arrangements due, for example, to the release or the arrest of some prominent figure – the “families” and the “mandamenti”
reached a balance, thus, not even the arrests of prominent fugitives, like Benedetto SPERA in Palermo and Vincenzo VIRGA in Trapani, seem to have caused devastating effects.
As already mentioned in previous Reports, as regards the situation in the provinces, a brief synopsis will be provided, with the essential guidelines - widely shared within the organization – on which PROVENZANO based his strategy in order to reestablish the effectiveness of cosa nostra, that is:
- to reestablish the respect of traditional mafia “rules”;
- to decrease the number of “men of honour” and the “remote” control of the “lowest level”, entrusted with conducting the criminal activities involving the highest risk;.
- to increase the cultural and social level of the mafia leadership. 1.a Palermo
A “governing body” operates in the province of Palermo, made up of old “men of honour” directly selected by PROVENZANO himself. Among these, a particularly significant role appears to be played by the fugitive Salvatore LO PICCOLO, who is considered by the other “men of honour” in Palermo as a reference point as regards
the settlement of disputes concerning the distribution of public contracts and business deals in general; therefore, it appears that this individual really is a representative of PROVENZANO, acting on his behalf.
The “families” still are those traditionally known, but their distribution among the various “mandamenti” has already changed – and will probably change in the future.
There are essentially two reasons for these changes:
- the need to entrust qualified subjects (though members of other similar structures) with the responsibility of heading “families” without a leader;
- the opportunity for dismantling the “mandamenti” that are most difficult to control.
The Cinisi “family”, for example, that was part of the “mandamento” of Partinico, currently “… belongs to Palermo, not to Partinico, right, Terrasini belongs to Partinico but Cinisi belongs to Palermo” (ndr: statement made by a member of cosa nostra). In this case,, it appears that the initiative stemmed from the opportunity to have an impact on the “mandamento” in Partinico,.from which Vito VITALE, currently incarcerated, led his mafia war against PROVENZANO.
1.b Trapani
In the province of Trapani, the most prominent figures are Matteo MESSINA DENARO and Vincenzo VIRGA. Basically, each of them controls an area that represents half the province; the first, who also plays the role of “provincial representative”, controls the northern area while the latter, the southern.
The arrest of VIRGA, already mentioned in the previous Report, has not caused significant changes; there is reason to believe that the mafia control over Trapani and its surrounding area is held by figures linked to VIRGA.
The same can be said about the area controlled by Matteo MESSINA DENARO, still a fugitive, having its focus in the territory of the city of Castelvetrano.
In the mandamento of Mazara del Vallo also, headed by Andrea MANGIARACINA, there are no significant indications of changes. Moreover, the fact that during the referenced period no murders took place in the province of Trapani gives reason to believe that an agreement of stability has finally been reached..1.c Agrigento In the province of Agrigento, during the last two years, a dozen murders were committed – mostly in the area between the cities of Raffadali and Sant’Angelo Muxaro – allegedly linked to mafia-type organized crime. These murders appear to be part of the internal reorganization of local groups and aimed at preventing emerging figures from obtaining the control.
Mafia power, however, is still held by subjects who have been at the top of the organization for a long time, although some of them are incarcerated, like, for example, Salvatore FRAGAPANE; when he was arrested in 1993, this individual played the role of “provincial representative” and, currently, he still has a significant control through a strong presence on the territory of figures who are linked to him.
Other prominent figures, although incarcerated, are Simone and Mario CAPIZZI, whose position in the area of Ribera appears to be still solid.
Probably, there is an unstable situation in Canicattì, where the murder of Diego GUARNERI, that took place in October of last year, is not to be considered as an isolated fact since this individual was a member of one of the most important “families” in the province, and who was allegedly in close contact with Giuseppe MADONIA in Caltanissetta. It is not improbable, therefore, that locally an attempt at obtaining the power is currently taking place by emerging figures, an operation which is likely to create difficulties because of previous relations between the victim and MADONIA..1.d Catania Mafia-type organized crime from Catania is not clearly defined, since the most recent counteractions, the incarceration of traditional leaders for long periods
of time and the pressure applied by emerging forces ruined, in fact, the cohesion between traditional crime families; therefore a stage of a provisional nature has started and cannot be easily interpreted.
Thus:
- in Catania the main groups of SANTAPAOLA, PILLERA-CAPELLO and MAZZEI are in conflict between one another, and frequent migrations of subjects occur from one organization to another, thus causing “dangerous misunderstandings” that are not always easily solved. The SANTAPAOLA family is still dominating, and its members proved to be quite constant in conducting illicit activities;
- in the province, apart the above-mentioned groups operating in Catania and its surroundings, there are still mafia clans operating in the following areas:
Calatino, Acese, Ionian-Etna, Paternò-Adrano-Biancavilla and in the area of Bronte-Maletto-Maniace; there are also several indications of crisis showing that changes occurring within certain families. In particular, “trouble areas” surfaced:
- in Scordia, where a mafia double murder took place in May and was committed in a wider context, as part of a conflict to obtain the “control”.over public contracts and other mafia organizations fighting against each other in an area also including the northern part of the province of Siracusa, that will be later described in further detail;
- in the area of Bronte-Maniace-Maletto, where three organizations are mainly operating, one of which is headed by MONTAGNO BOZZONE, against whom an attempted murder was recently committed, probably due to the need to avoid “overlapping” in illicit activities.
Finally, the deterioration that affects the charismatic cosa nostra leader in the Catania area, Benedetto SANTAPAOLA, because of his ongoing incarceration, is starting to affect the control activity that could cause strain, more or less apparent, that it is not always possible to solve without conflicts.
1.e Siracusa
Based on the traditional subdivision of the influence areas of mafia
organizations, the northern part of the province is controlled by the NARDO crime family, a direct outgrowth of the Catania cosa nostra “family”; the focus is located in Lentini, together with the APARO, TRIGILA and SANTA PANAGIA groups, brought together in a type of confederation and acting in close cooperation under the authority of the NARDO crime family.
Another group that operates in Siracusa is the URSO-BOTTARO group, a rival of the above-mentioned confederate groups, that seems to have regained strength following the release of several of its key members..Since the beginning of this year, several bloody facts (12) happened in a small area, that is Francofonte (SR) and SCORDIA (CT); based on a first assessment, this gives reason to believe that new conflicts have arisen between the historically rival groups in this area (the NARDIs in the Lentini area and the DI SALVOs in the neighbouring area of Scordia, in the Catania province) as well as the simultaneous probable fracture within the NARDO crime family in order to reach leading positions in the organization, also taking into account theongoing incarceration status of of the head, NARDO Sebastiano, and the possible loss of control, as a result, over his main lieutenants, who are still free. However, there is reason to believe that a possible cause for the conflicts between the NARDOs and the minor mafia groups included in the NARDO crime family, in particular the Francofonte group, is based on economic factors. These conflicts, indeed, may have arisen in order to obtain control over the territory and exclusive control over illicit activities, in particular narcotics trafficking and extortions, as well as sharing criminal activities linked to public contracts and public funding in the wider area including the province of Siracusa and the southern part of the prpovince of Catania.
Finally, in this area, the mafia organization is subdivided in small cells, through an extension of the organization-operational model toward several centres, that is, several crime families simultaneously operating on the same area, with the slow but progressive weakening of the strategic leadership of Nitto SANTAPAOLA..1.f Messina The situation in province of Messina is characterized by strong and complex local criminal movements, with constant mafia interferences having different origins; these, however, do not appear to be aiming at creating a hierarchical criminal structure model having a jurisdiction over the whole territory of the province. Another fact is the influence of criminal networks connected to Calabria, also based on outgrowths toward high-density mafia crime areas, such as the Catania and Palermo areas, close to the Messina province.
The organization evolution of the main crime families existing in these provinces led to the decentralization of wide sectors of activities, both legal and illegal, that have arisen outside their territory of influence, and to delegate the management of these activities to criminal subjects of a lower level, under a comlex control, but having a wide autonomy and good profit opportunities.
A recent example in this context was provided by the facts concerning ALFANO Michelangelo, from Palermo, who, through real estate investments in Messina, took care of the reinvestment of huge amounts of illicit proceeds coming from the criminal activities conducted by cosa nostra.
As regards the strictly criminal nature of the facts, the cruelty of the events recently occurred in the province, the murder of MAURO Carmelo, a previous.offender who was reported as a member of the crime family headed by GALLI Luigi, currently incarcerated, head of the crime family of the GIOSTRA area in Messina, and the murder of TRAMONTANA Domenico, a previous offender, reported as a close associate of crime family headed by GULLOTTI Giuseppe, currently incarcerated operating in the Barcellona area, could indicate a future unstable situation.
As regards the fields of interest of the criminal organizations, the arrest of a large number of individuals and the seizure of significant quantiites of narcotics confirm the strategic position of the town as regards the transit of narcotics.
1.g Caltanissetta
Based on information recently gathered, it appears that a drastic reduction of the “stidda” mafia groups is occurring, with the exception of Gela, and that cosa nostra still is the dominating mafia organization. The most prominent figure still is Giuseppe MADONIA, currently incarcerated, represented on the territory by several important fugitives from Gela and Mazzarino.
Moreover, significant links came to notice with the parallel groups operating in the other Sicilian provinces, in particular in the Palermo province.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning the operation during which it was established that an individual from Cinisi (Palermo), but living in San Cataldo.(CL), was a reference point for the Palermo mafia members, who stated that he was the one who was able to maintain contacts with fugitives as important as Bernardo PROVENZANO and Salvatore LO PICCOLO. The same individual, on the other hand, had already been mentioned by a cooperating witness as the person in charge of the management of land properties that RIINA owned in the province of Caltanissetta.
A particular attention should be focused on the area of Gela, where in recent years an internal conflict took place within the local “cosa nostra” family that, notwithstanding the current truce, does not appear to have come to an end
through a settlement of the fracture.
In this context, the local “stidda”, one of the few that are really operational, is currently cooperating with cosa nostra and is basically engaged in activities
such as extortions and drug trafficking.
1.h Enna
In this province, the cosa nostra families have a dominating position; however, between these families and within the families themselves, there still is a split that, occurred in 1992, at the beginning of the “slaughterers’ fringe” and of the “moderate fringe”, that virtually affected the whole Sicilian territory, still is an unstable factor that should not be underestimated..The prominent figure in this context is, as already known, Giuseppe MADONIA, from Caltanissetta, who certainly has a strong authority, but, as established by the investigations conducted in recent years, was not able to impose the peace, also because the interests involved – that basically concern construction and earthworks – are significant.
1.i Ragusa
In this province, the mafia group in Vittoria is the most significant. This is an autonomous “stiddaro” group that, however, has been targeted for a long time by “cosa nostra” that is attempting to take it over, by using its Gela branch.
Based on this and on the internal factors due to emerging figures, the situation is permanently unstable; however, no really significant changes have occurred
for the time being.
Currently, based on the situation of general “weakness” that allegedly affects the criminal leadership of the CARBONARO-DOMINANTE, several criminal groups from the province of Ragusa are allegedly attempting to conduct on their own a number of criminal activities (such as extortions, narcotics trafficking, etc) by using mafia methods.
In this context, there was an increase of arsons recently committed, also outside the area of Vittoria, and especially in Comiso and Sacicli, against local shop owners and businessmen, as well as the arrests by law enforcement authorities of individuals engaged in narcotics trafficking activities and robberies..In the province of Ragusa, there have always been indications of the presence of “cosa nostra”, aespecially in Vittoria, where the cosa nostra families purchased land properties to grow vegetables and fruit, that foster one of the most profitable econonomic areas of Southern Italy.
Finally, in this regard, it is worth mentioning the land properties located between Vittoria and Acate and linked to Simone CASTELLO, who is involved in the police operation called “Grande Oriente”, since he is suspected of being “…the confidential point of contact through which the entourage of the MADONIAs from Caltanissetta was maintaining contacts with the fugitive leader Bernardo PROVENZANO, of whom they were loyal allies…” (Author’s note: according to judicial records).
2. Economic activities
The trend provided to cosa nostra by PROVENZANO made it possible, by reducing internal conflicts, to recover a satisfying coordination - both at a provincial and regional level - between all the “families” included in the organization. This made it possible once again for cosa nostra to fully use its main economic resources: the parasitic exploitation of the local economic, business and trade activities, and the control of public contracts.
Every family, within its “own” territory, conducts suffocating extortions against all businesses operating there while, in wider territories – at a provincial and regional level – it is the whole organization of cosa nostra that, by coordinating its own local.branches, is acting based on the orders issued by a single leadership in order to steer the public tenders, aiming at privileging a small number of businesses.
The system, which is identical to the one developed when “cosa nostra” was being hierarchically led by RIINA, changes only as regards the decision-making process that in the past was in fact entrusted exclusively with the head, while it is currently the result of agreements negotiated by PROVENZANO or his trusted representatives.
The infiltration of cosa nostra in the system aiming at controlling the public works sector is still ongoing, toward businesses operating in Sicily, both having a Sicilian or external origin.
The situation described above surfaces whenever a criminal operation is brought to an end by law enforcement authorities against cosa nostra figures of a certain significance and, all over Sicily, this is always identical: the cosa nostra “families” basically live on extortions, while their leaders try to make more significant profits in the area of public works, where they engage all their resources.
An investigation ended last March established that a group of businessmen, closely linked to cosa nostra, has been managing, for many years, and virtually controlling exclusively, the public tenders by ANAS – (National Roads and Highways Authority - Ente Nazionale per le Strade) – by using as accomplices several officials from the Department for the road network in Sicily.
It is worth mentioning the serious corruption within such an important public administration office, having a regional jurisdiction, that made it possible for a small.number of businessmen to fraudulently obtain not only significant public works such as the road construction works, but also minor works such as road maintenance.
Another serious aspect is the fact that public officials were quite sure they would not be punished for modifying the tenders, indicating a lack of control; in some cases, concerning businesses that were excluded because of missing documents, during searches conducted in Offices under investigation, documents were found that had been reported as missing.
The same feeling of unpunishability in the management of public expenses by favouring private interests was also established during an investigation conducted in Trapani and ended last April; this showed that the mayor and several town councillors formed a group which, in fact, took autonomous decisions concerning public works without even formally abiding by the regulation concerning this matter.
Thus, a public tender concerning the management, during the summer, of
kindergardens was entrusted, directly through a resolution, to a co-operative headed by a politician who, in 1998, was incarcerated since he was suspected of having created a “committee” involved in business connections with the participation of businessmen and members of the mafia “family” headed by Vincenzo VIRGA.
Investigations conducted on interests of cosa nostra in the business field showed cases of commingling between public officials, businessmen and mafia members, thus creating criminal/business groups that are able to manage public expenses based.on criteria that do not in any way concern the public interest and, even less, the free competition.
In the areas of Cinisi, Terrasini, Carini, Torretta and Partinico it was established that local mafia leaders, all linked to PROVENZANO and his leading group, are constantly in contact with one another and with leading figures, even though fugitives, in order to define the sharing of public contracts.
In this context, attention was also focused on a case of control by the mafia of private businesses aiming at making investments in trade initiatives. This concerned the creation of a hypermarket involving a bribe amounting to over three billion lire, that was intended to be managed by the “family” controlling the territory where the hypermarket would be built.
Moreover, further profits were expected from the participation in the works of businesses linked to cosa nostra; this would definitely corrupt the whole entrepreneurial initiative since, after such a commingling, mafia members probably would continue to be involved in the commercial activity.
In this context, a central role was played by a town councillor from Cinisi, who acted as a link between the investing entrepreneurial group, the mafia members and the town council.
Based on this and on other similar investigations conducted in recent years, there is reason to believe that cosa nostra recovered a high level of control on the construction business, by adopting operational models that can be classified in.several ways, according to the relations existing between the organization and the businesses. These, indeed, can be: - businesses that are not linked to cosa nostra and are victims of extortions;
- businesses managed by individuals operating in agreement with cosa nostra;
- businesses owned by cosa nostra figures.
The last two cases, in order to be achieved, generally require the assistance of public officials, an essential link between mafia and business, which is absolutely necessary in order to steer public tenders.
The overall situation, therefore, is a closed system which is able to intercept investments, both public and private, either through basic extortion, or through direct participation in the works. It often happens, moreover, that both activities interact. As a result, a significant part of the invested resources is taken from the achievement of the works; therefore, these are not performed according to the quality standards previously set, thus leading to the use of further and unscheduled funding.
In this context, affecting several areas in Sicily, a large number of public works are expected to be achieved in the near future, that are absolutely necessary in order to harmonize the structures of the island to national and European standards.
Currently, government has to face a challenge in order to prevent these huge resources from being dispersed, thus generating illicit profits for cosa nostra as well as the businessmen and the public officials that are linked to it. This challenge is of a very important nature for the following two reasons..The first and most apparent reason is the need to provide to the national economy the structures that are absolutely required for its development. Obviously, the creation of these structures must not slow down and, once they will be ready, they will have to reach all the aims for which they were intended.
The mafia presence, as we all know, involves unending delays as regards the decision-making stage, with the interference of complex negotiations in order to reach an agreement on specific diverging interests, as well as the work achievement stage, that are delayed due to the participation also of mafia businesses that are not always appropriately equipped, but also due to the refunding required because of the dispersal of the funds initially assigned. This dispersal is caused by corruption, extortion and the achievement of the works in an uneconomic or technically inadequate way.
The second, and maybe most important reason, is the fact that, if cosa nostra relies on the diversion of the public funds assigned to the achievement of the future important works in order to recover once and for all, by successfully preventing it from achieving this project, it would be possible to create the opportunity to cause one of the most serious crises cosa nostra has ever been facing.
Currently, cosa nostra still maintains the characteristic of a monolithic structure only because it thinks of the future and stifles internal conflicts, hoping that new profits.will be made under the guidance of leaders that recommend patience and the maintaining of a united group.
If these expectations will fail, the “families”, that will therefore have to rely only on extortions and common crime proceeds, will lack the reason for which, until now, they made efforts in order to protect the solidity of the organization to the detriment of its autonomy. As a result, a dismantlement of the organization would occur and a stage would start in which the lack of a unitary leadership would significantly decrease its effectiveness and, probably also the impermeable nature of investigations.
3. Position at an international level On several occasions, it was stated that the regeneration project of “cosa nostra” also required the recovery of a significant position at an international level.
Because of the globalization process, affecting every aspect of the world society, there was reason to believe that cosa nostra would not accept a marginal criminal role, especially after it had been an organization that, because of its extraordinary ability to move at an international level, since the ‘70s, was able to play a key role in important illicit trafficking activities, ranging from cigarette smuggling to narcotics trafficking.
Moreover, several significant indications were noticed, such as, for example, the transit in Sicily of cigarette smuggling, involving local structures linked to the mafia organization..Currently, several objective elements make it possible to consider – with the necessary caution – that cosa nostra may be attempting to obtain an international role, of an important as well as a sophisticated nature; the role of a financial structure that is able to conduct and control a whole range of illicit activities – that are conducted by Italian and foreign criminal organizations in cooperation with one
another – by using the same structure that, in the past, had been used in order to manage the financial aspect of cigarette smuggling and narcotics trafficking, i.e.
money transfers, money laundering and reinvestments.
Current investigations concerning cigarette smuggling activities established that a key role was played by individuals living in Switzerland, that manage the financial aspect on which the whole activity is based. These figures are linked to the Sicilian mafia, since several of the most important members had laundered, in the past, several million dollars that were the proceeds of drug trafficking conducted between Italian cosa nostra – American cosa nostra.
Also the typically criminal entourage involved in smuggling activities can be traced back to cosa nostra, an in particular it was established that there is an involvement of camorra members that had been, in the past, members of the Sicilian mafia organization.
This happened a long time ago, in the 70s, when the creation of a national criminal cartel made it possible for the organizations from Sicily, Campania and Calabria to achieve a coordination between one another in order to manage in a profitable way the cigarette smuggling activities. Subsequently also, the involvement in cosa nostra.of camorra groups was very close, so that the fracture that occurred at the beginning of the ‘80s between the “Corleonesi” and the “losers” was reflected in Campania also. Moreover, the same camorra groups continued to cooperate with Sicilian mafia members until 1991, when cosa nostra interfered in order to solve the conflicts between the GIONTA clan and two other Neapolitan groups, by organizing a meeting in Rome that was attended, after they were contacted by the NUVOLETTA family, by significant figures such as Mariano AGATE and Leoluca BAGARELLA.
Therefore, there is reason to believe, based on facts previously established and on possible links revealed by investigations, that cosa nostra may have a role in this return to the cigarette smuggling activities of big criminal organizations.
4. Analytical studies
A document was issued concerning organized crime in the provinces of Caltanissetta, Enna and Ragusa, in order to develop an analytical overview of mafia-type crime in these Sicilian provinces by using information coming fromm investigative and judicial sources.
This was done in order to provide a complete and systematic overview of the phenomenon by focusing attention not only on individual specific criminal offenses but also and especially on the criminal organizations as such, in order to analyze their strengths, as well as their organization structure, illicit interests, alliances and possible developments..B. CAMORRA During the six months under examination, the camorra, although it continued to be active in every criminal sector, showed a decrease in the conflicts between its members, especially indicated by a decrease in violent and bloody facts.
Traditional illegal activities, such as extortions, loansharking, trafficking and distribution of narcotics and money laundering, continue to be conducted without any interruption.
However, a continued and effective counteraction made it possible to severely affect Campanian organizations involved in cigarette smuggling, by arresting prominent figures involved in this trafficking activity, including members of the AVAGLIANO, SARNO and MAZZARELLA crime families, as well as dismantling operational bases, bothg in Italy and abroad.
This counteraction, on one hand, caused a significant decrease in the smuggling activity in Campania; on the other hand, however, it led Campanian criminal organizations to identify new market areas, especially in the United Kingdom.
The flexible andchangeable nature of the camorra in the context described above represents one of the main characteristics of the Campanian crimihnal organization;
there is, indeed, a strong attempt at finding always new and profitable market areas to be exploited in every possible way.
In particular, during the six months under examination:.?? Following the “mad cow” emergency, the camorra strengthened its positions in the illegal trade of meat, in particular white meat (FABBROCINO criminal family);
?? Investigations established cointerests of Campanian criminals in Naples, as regards the management of ambulances (camorra members linked to the “ALLEANZA DI SECONDIGLIANO”);
?? Strong interests were established in the floweres market area, especially in the Pompei area (CESARANO crime family);
?? Infiltrations were identified in the management of public parking areas (CIMMINO crime family);
?? Campanian crime families are significantly interested in illicit activities concerning animals. This field, especially concerning dog fights and the sale of videotapes of dog fights, provides profits to the camorra amounting to approximately 1.000 billion lire a year; the most involved criminal groups are the
following: BIDOGNETTI, SCHIAVONE, CONTINI, D’ALESSANDRO, DEL PRETE, GALLO, GIONTA, GIULIANO, LANGELLA, MALLARDO and PUCA.
The consolidated interest of the camorra in the area of the illicit gathering, transport
and disposal of waste is particularly significant and concerns the whole region. In every Campanian province significant seizures of illicit dumping areas were conducted, where significant quantities of toxic waste were found..The situation became most serious following the recent emergency due to the saturation of a large number of dumping grounds managed by the Region and the difficult identification of new territorial areas to use as dumping areas. On this occasion, the camorra tried to relocate the waste disposal areas in private locations, directly managed, thus causing serious threats to public health and safety. In this field, a particularly active crime family was the CASALESI clan, operating almost in a monopoly system in every connected activity.
As regards the near future, there is reason to believe that the level of conflicts between crime families will increase, taking into account the approximately 60.000 billion lire that the Government and the European Community granted in order to achieve public works in the whole region of Campania.
Moreover, the outgrowths outside the region are alarming; in particular, the great number of police operations conducted in the six months under examination make it possible to state that, in several regions close to Campania, the presence of the crime families has become stable and widespread, with direct interests on the territory.
This is the case of the province of Latina, where the presence of the following Caserta clans was established, BARDELLINO, IOVINE, SCHIAVONE and LA TORRE, that applied in this area all the methods typical of the criminal enterprise.
1. The situation in the provinces
1.a The province of Naples
The current criminal situation in Naples is the following:.?? A decrease in the control over the territory of the cartel known as “ALLEANZA
DI SECONDIGLIANO”, due to the strong law enforcement counteraction, that led to the arrest of the main leaders of the organization; ?? The opposition to this federation, with equal strength, of the allied groups MISSO-PIROZZI and MAZZARELLA; ?? The return of old conflicts between local groups, linked to the need of obtaining control over the respective areas of influence in order to obtain public contracts.
The dismantlement of the leadership of the “ALLEANZA DI SECONDIGLIANO”
involved the loss of the initial united nature of the federation, which, as a result, caused the diaspora of several groups, such as the LO RUSSO, that required a greater autonomy at an operational and decision level.
The unstable criminal balances in Naples also involved the so-called minor groups, that established operational agreements with the “ALLEANZA” or with the opposing cartel MAZZARELLA and MISSO –PIROZZI.
In this period, a significant decrease in the number of murders also occurred, and this fact is obviously linked to a truce between the “ALLEANZA DI SECONDIGLIANO” and the opposing group.
The criminal situation established in the area of Ercolano is also unstable and alarming, with a large number of attempted murders and committed murders; in this area there is the presence of the following crime families: IENGO-BIRRA,.ASCIONE and COZZOLINO, that have to face the attempt, by new emerging figures, to obtain the power.
1.b The province of Caserta
In this province, notwithstanding the arrest of Francesco SCHIAVONE, the criminal supremacy of his group did not decrease and was not affected by the significant law enforcemetn operations that, for the time being, caused a comparatively small number of convictions.
The main local criminal organizations formed a confederation around the charismatic figures of SCHIAVONE Francesco and BIDOGNETTI Francesco, heads of the CASALESI clan that, though incarcerated, give orders through their loyal men, still free; the most dangerous of these undoubtedly are ZAGARIA Michele and IOVINE Antonio.
In this province, the following crime families continue to operate autonomously: LA TORRE (Mondragone), LUBRANO (Alto Matese) and ESPOSITO (Sessa Aurunca).
1.c The province of Avellino In this area the strongest criminal presences are located in the Valle Caudina (PAGNOZZI crime family), in the Lauro valley (CAVA and GRAZIANO groups) and in Avellino (GENOVESE crime family).
During the six months under examination, moreover, a large number of fugitives coming from the neiboughring pprovince of Naples were arrested..However, in this area, the general situation of organized crime is not as alarming as in the provinces of Naples, Caserta and Salerno.
1.d The province of Benevento Also in the Sannio area, as in the province of Avellino, the stable presence on the territory of camorra clans does not generate particularly alarming social threats.
The areas that are most affected by the mafia phenomenon are, beside the city of Benevento (SPARANDEO clan), the Valle Cudina (PAGNOZZI group) and Telesina
(SATURNINO-RAZZANO).
1.e The province of Salerno
The current situation of the criminal groups operating in the Salerno area is characterized by balances that appear to be extremely subject to changes since, in this province as well, significant police operations had a strong impact, that were possible because of the statements made by powerful clan heads, such as GALASSO Pasquale, LORETO Pasquale and PEPE Mario, who became cooperating witnesses. Several recent investigative elements indicate a strengthening of the criminal ranks of former members of the “Nuova Camorra Organizzata”, especially in the areas of Nocera and Pagani, with a current attempt to establish alliances between clans, over several areas in the province.
The territorial areas mainly affected by the phenomenon are the Nocera-Sarno area and the Sele area..2. Analytical studies Through the exam of the significant volume of judicial and police records concerning the development of the situation of the various Campanian groups, it was possible to obtain an overview, as complete as possible on every area in this region as well as identify the outgrowths in Italy and abroad of camorra organizations.
The study continued on the reasons that caused the wars between opposing groups, through a document on the murders committed in the region, that made it possible to develop allegations, supported by an accurate analysis, on the development of alliances between crime families and on future and possible criminal scenarios.
In this same manner, an analytical study was started on the situation of organized crime in the provinces of Avellino and Benevento that, through specific further investigations on the territory, will make it possible to define a synopsis of the situation of local organized crime and, at the same time, to identify through subsequent preventive investigations, the areas of penetration of crime not yet investigated by law enforcement.
Moreover, charts of organized crime in Campania were defined and, through a change in the maps of the influence areas of the crime families, are undoubtedly useful, from a knowledge point of view, for every law enforcement agency that received these charts.
Finally, two preventive investigations were conducted, respectively aiming at developing confidential information concerning several illicit situations in the area.of Caserta, and at checking, through a cooperation with the German BKA, the infiltration of Campanian crime families in Germany.
C. ‘NDRANGHETA
Also in the period being examined, the ‘ndrangheta continued to pursue its medium and long term strategic objectives. In this regard, because of the significant profit-making opportunities provided, it is worth mentioning its infiltration into the legitimate economy in order to invest huge illicit proceeds derived from organized crime activities by using entrepreneurial activities.
As to its organization, ‘ndrangheta evolved in such a form that at present it manages to reconciliate the need for centralising the direction of its illicit traffic king activities with the need for camouflaging them, thus making police infiltration more difficult.
Such a change resulted in a better management of the ‘ndrangheta by its leaders.
Its current reorganization in mandamenti, based on the model of the “cosa nostra”
organization, has given the ‘ndrangheta a clear pyramidal cut – the change is already evident in the province of Reggio Calabria while as to the other provinces this process is still under way..Recent investigations showed that some groups of the ‘ndrangheta’s families took root also in regions other than Calabria, such as Lombardy, Liguria, Piedmont and Tuscany.
The current organizational levels allowed ‘ndrangheta to acquire huge financial proceeds that, next to its traditional activities, are used to start apparently licit entrepreneurial activities that lend themselves to infiltrate legitimate economy.
This strategy is very alarming, especially in this phase of the Calabria’s development, where the private entrepreneurial system was given great responsibilities in the framework of the regional economic progress, especially considering the huge EU funds for the multi-annual “Agenda 2000” project and the forthcoming funds for the Messina Bridge works.
The prospects of making huge profits from such initiatives are bound to raise the interest of the major mafia-type families operating in Calabria.
Furthermore, the scope of the interests involved in the bridge construction works gives reason to believe that the ‘ndrangheta’s families operating in the Reggio area may reach an agreement with “cosa nostra” in order to avoid any conflict in the management of the very profitable opportunities provided by these works.
Finally, another increasingly alarming phenomenon is that of extortions in the detriment of hotel and resort managers..The concrete signs of this low-risk and very profitable criminal activity range from the imposition of unauthorised watchmen to the compulsory hiring of subjects linked with the ‘ndrangheta’s families.
This criminal activity not only seriously jeopardises the development opportunities of one of the local most significant resources, i.e. the tourism sector, but also allows ‘ndrangheta’s families to make proselytes by giving them seasonal jobs.
1. Provincial Situations
1.a The Province of Catanzaro
Besides conducting their traditional criminal activities, the ‘ndrangheta groups operating in this province are increasingly involved in the production of cannabinoids and their derivatives, as the frequent seizures of land used for cannabis cultivation showed.
At present, the province is living a sort of pax mafiosa, thus suggesting that a sort of balance was established in terms of power relations and control of the territory.
This situation particularly applies to Catanzaro, where the local families, traditionally characterised by lower conflict levels and less refined organizational patterns, apparently limit themselves to manage the criminal activities within the areas of their competence, without aiming at something else..The low profile maintained by the local families also derives from the strong influence traditionally exerted within the urban area by mafia-type families external to the provincial context, such as the ARENA and the MANCUSO families that, in order to manage their illicit activities, often use manpower provided by the larger local groups, i.e. the COSTANZO and CATANZARITI groups.
Also the Ionian area shows a well defined balance and low levels of conflict, especially due to the control more or less directly exerted by the larger and tougher families of the neighbouring provinces, i.e. the ARENA family from Isola Capo Rizzuto as to the Northern part and the RUGA-METASTASIO from Monasterace as to the Southern part.
Conversely, as to the Lametia area, which is a mafia high-density territory, there are several families which show a more advanced organization. Through a complex network of alliances, these families aim at obtaining positions of prominence within a territory characterised by well-established economic interests due to the presence of leading companies that started the industrial development process in advance compared to the other areas of Calabria.
This particular historical moment makes the sector of public works crucial, in view of the forthcoming public funds allocated both to expand the road network of the.Lametia Terme industrial area and to enhance the local airport, in a context where the entrepreneurial community is strongly infiltrated by the ‘ndrangheta.
A resumption of internal conflicts among local criminals that resulted in an increased number of murders, is apparently consistent with an aggression strategy deceived by the IANNAZZO family against its traditional rivals, i.e. the GIAMPA’-TORCASIO-CERRA families. These conflicts originate from a never placated hatred as well as from the fact that the IANNAZZO family, which is much more advanced from an entrepreneurial viewpoint, cherishes great expectations as to the forthcoming use in this area of huge public capital.
1.b The Province of Cosenza With regard to the province of Cosenza, the increasing number of settlements of accounts among the various families, due to a quality leap of these families, traditionally considered less organized and dangerous than the ones of the other provinces, shows that a reorganization of the mafia-type balance is under way.
Undoubtedly, this new situation was caused by the considerable profit-making opportunities linked with tenders for contracts concerning the renovation of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway.
As to the Tyrrhenian area, criminal groups are active in all the illicit sectors, and apparently are specialising in well defined sectors in that each of them allegedly controls a given criminal activity, i.e. the MUTO group (the fish product trade), the.SERPA-MARTELLO-SCOFANO (extortions), the GENTILE and FEMIA families (drug trafficking and the video-poker market).
As recent events showed, the Cassano Ionio area, which became famous in 1999 because of the cruel fight between the rival groups from Sibari and Cirò for the control of the territory, followed by a short truce interrupted in the late 2000, is again in the limelight.
It cannot be excluded that the new bloody facts may trigger a new spiral of violence, although these facts are apparently linked with conflicts caused by the fight for obtaining the monopoly of the drug market. At present, this control exerted by some standing groups of gipsies is apparently questioned by some new groups, among which the BRUNI group stands out.
The gipsy groups, which are taking on an increasingly important role, especially in the Sibari and Castrovillari areas, proved to be linked to specific mafia-type criminal organizations operating in this territory.
1.c The Province of Crotone
It is characterised by the presence of several though and powerful families, that proved to be able to establish relations with the most important families from the Reggio area and maintain several links both at a national and international level..This province continues to be the scenario of several murders linked to settlements of accounts involving mafia-type families that are still pursuing new forms of balance, especially in the mountain and in the Ionian areas, mainly due to a considerably decreased influence and prestige of the ARENA clan.
Also in this province, infiltration in the sector of public works is quite alarming and in order to counter this problem a specific multi-agency group was established and tasked with monitoring and supervising sites managed with public funds.
The area surrounding Cirò Marina is particularly exposed to the risk of infiltration in public works; indeed, the FARAO-MARINCOLA group, by using straw-men, allegedly established a group of controlled enterprises that can win almost all contracts for public works, including supply contracts.
1.d The Province of Reggio Calabria
As to the province of Reggio Calabria, the new reorganization of the ‘ndrangheta into mandamenti is by now a recognised fact, and the groups already operate according to the new organization patterns.
Local criminal groups are traditionally the most threatening in Calabria; therefore, investigators should focus their attention on them not only because of the existing signs of infiltration in the legitimate entrepreneurial texture but also with a view to the forthcoming allocation of EU funds to the province..Indeed, the Gioia Tauro port represents a key factor in local and international transhipment activities; this is why ‘ndrangheta focused its attention on port operations, as its attempts to infiltrate management activities of the port infrastructures showed.
Moreover, at a provincial level, significant projects involving infrastructures are under way or are being planned; these projects will involve huge financial flows of public funds (modernization of the SS106 national road, dam canalisation of the Metramo and Menta rivers, infra-structural works concerning the Gioia Tauro port area), and the new development opportunities of the province may be frustrated if the ‘ndrangheta groups succeed in influencing tenders.
Finally, the bloody facts recorded during this six-month period, apparently exclude a resumption of the armed conflict between the groups, since the murders of clear mafia-type origin allegedly are due to an internal reorganization of the mafia-type groups or “settlements of accounts” for the failure to comply with agreements involving illicit activities, mainly drug trafficking.
Indeed, the end of the conflict and a decreased number in murders compared to the last years, apparently confirm once again the general strategic choice made by the groups operating in the province of Reggio Calabria, i.e. the creation of a new system of relations based on the maintenance of the existing balance and aimed at not calling the law enforcement agencies’ attention.
1.e The Province of Vibo Valentia.The number of murders committed can be considered normal, so that it can be assumed that a sort of agreement was reached by the various groups as to the division of the territory and the activity sectors.
As in the recent past, the MANCUSO family still controls the criminal situation of the territory, in that it dominates uncontested also relying on the well established alliances made with the powerful groups operating in the province of Reggio, such as the PIROMALLI, MAMMOLITI, RUGOLO, MAZZAFERRO and PESCE families.
Also as to the province of Vibo Valentia, there is a strong concern for the possible infiltration of mafia -type families in the entrepreneurial context, in particular with a view to accumulating the allocated public funds.
The works most exposed to this risk include the construction of the third lane of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway, particularly works concerning the S.Onofrio-Serre tract and the Chiaravalle-Serra San Bruno crossroad.
Like the remaining areas of the region, the province of Vibo Valentia is affected by extortions and loan-sharking. In spite of the fact that the number of reports is statistically insignificant, this criminal activity is much more threatening and widespread than it appears. In particular, extortions are closely linked to a considerable number of bombings and arsons, thus showing clearly that this organized crime modus operandi poses a serious threat to the society.
2. Analytical studies.Our office is preparing a report on the ‘ndrangheta in the province of Catanzaro, by using the same criteria already used to draw up the report on Reggio Calabria.
Follow-up investigations caused by the recent report on mafia-type criminal organizations in the province of Reggio Calabria are under way.
D. APULIAN ORGANIZED CRIME
An analysis of the organized crime operating in Apulia confirms that, also in the first half of 2001, the criminal situation was still quite diversified. Indeed, the structure and the characteristics of each clan have taken on specific features, thus resulting in some cases in a considerable diversification from town to town.
Therefore, it is possible to say that in Apulia there are various and several “mafia-type roots”, each of which is characterised both by the territory where it operates and the specific links established over the years with other mafia-type or criminal groups operating in other Italian regions.
Over the last years, the region represented the ground where various kinds of national and international crime met, settled and made mutual exchanges.
Unlike what happened in other regions and with the exceptions that shall be mentioned, however, this “opening” process to external contacts was not followed by a parallel phenomenon of expansion and strengthening of the Apulian criminal groups abroad. Indeed, Apulian criminal groups apparently prefer to settle themselves.in their territory of origin though considerable groups of Apulian individuals (mostly consisting of fugitives) settled themselves almost exclusively in European countries facing the Adriatic Sea.
These apparently conflicting factors, together with the traditional clashes for the control of the territory and illicit activities, are the main reasons that caused the multiplication of several mafia-type groups, a sort of cloning, which are currently present in Apulia.
Groups are characterised by a limited number of members, a limited territory (which is often a town or a district in the case of a city), and the use of criminal modi operandi and strategies that are typical of the large mafia-type organizations. For instance, extortions are widespread and committed on a regular basis.
As to the five provinces of Apulia, this phenomenon is visible and can be inferred from a range of specific and diversifying factors.
As to Bari and Brindisi, the old clan continue to be divided and at the same time contacts with national and international groups have been established.
As to Foggia and its province, the criminal groups (called “batterie”) firmly control the territory, although, generally speaking, this control is limited to the town and exerted by using techniques and strategies borrowed by the great clans from Campania..As to Lecce, situation is significantly evolving and it can be considered as a sort of “laboratory” of the Apulia organized crime evolution.
The organizational skills and the contacts with national criminal organizations (in
particular, the ‘ndrangheta) and international organizations (Albanian groups, notably as to alien smuggling and drug trafficking) as well as the current truce between the two major criminal groups, i.e. the Tornese and De Tommaso groups, give reason to believe that there is a sort of rearrangement of clans under way.
As to Taranto and its province, the organized crime operating in this area apparently is not affected by this situation; this is due not only to the fact that clans traditionally lived relatively separate from the facts that affected the other Apulian clans, but also to the fact that the old clans, in spite of the strong police forces’ action, apparently were not dismantled altogether.
In short, as far as Apulia is concerned, it is possible to observe a phenomenon which is only apparently inconsistent, i.e. on one hand the internationalisation of criminal activities, which is the result of the “globalisation” phenomenon that could not be ignored by the organized crime, and, on the other hand, a simultaneous strategic withdrawal, a sort of “defensive position taken on” by a high number of clans in a more limited area..Indeed, these factors contribute to enhance an atmosphere of tension within criminal groups, with inevitable repercussions on public security. The effects of these conflicting factors are then further enhanced by other aspects of similar importance.
Firstly, the successful fight against cigarette smuggling resulted in a significant decrease in clans’ proceeds, thus obliging them to make recourse to other traditional and new illicit activities, that include drug trafficking, extortions, alien smuggling and gambling. As to gambling, it mostly involves the “video-poker” machines and is favoured by the legislation in force that does not allow police forces to adequately control the thick and thriving network of would-be leisure centres where criminals, also in Apulia, easily take root. However, the typical and specific organization that underlies this business leads to exclude several clans from the “business”, with an inevitable increase in the number of clashes for the leadership in the sectors concerned..1. Provincial situations 1.a The Province of Bari
As to the city of Bari, in this period there was a worsening of conflicts among the clans there operating. Both in the historical centre and outskirts, that in the past were strictly controlled by the clans, the repeated serious bloody facts show that the breaking up phase triggered a spiral difficult to be interrupted.
The murders of Rocco SCIANNIMANICO (February 14, 2001), Nicola Antonio ABBRESCIA (April 6, 2001), CAPRIATI Francesco (June 29, 2001), a high number of attempted murders, such as that of Cosimo LARASPATA (occurred on the same day on which ABBRESCIA was murdered), as well as other similar facts confirm the strong conflict among the clans, caused by the final deflagration of alliances and the ensuing fight for the leadership of urban districts.
Bari’s central districts are contended by the CAPRIATI group and the STRISCIUGLIO group.
Even the Japigia district, once dominated by PARISI Savino’s criminal group, was the scenario of several serious crimes, in spite of being the only district that is apparently steady because of the lack of defections and incontrollable internal fights..As to the Bari area, exchanges of shots and wounding actions occurred during these six months, apparently show that the PARISI Savino’s clan reacted against the attempt made by the criminal MONTI Domenico (a formerly prominent figure of the CAPRIATI clan and then of the STRISCIUGLIO clan) to enlarge his drug business
on his own.
MONTI’s attempt shows that the PARISI clan became weak in the Japigia district (also as a result of the recent Operation “Blue Moon” that led to the arrest both of 70 conspirators out of 113 and of PALERMITI Eugenio, i.e. the right hand of PARISI Savino, nicknamed “Savinuccio”) . However, MONTI is quite unlikely to prevail, due to the excessive difference between the two groups in terms of resources,
members and accomplices.
In this regard, it is enough to say that that recent police investigations revealed that PARISI is still the head of his clan, in spite of being incarcerated. Better say, in this condition, PARISI Savino allegedly managed to collude with political representatives
of the local government institutions.
The Parisi clan’s enduring strength is mostly based on its complex internal organization that envisages the territory division among the head’s various representatives, assistance of members held in custody, a taxation system of profits obtained by the various groups and also a system of effective internal sanctions..The same capacity to survive their members’ arrest was shown by the clans of the Barletta area. After overcoming the original conflict, the SPERA-LATTANZIO group on one hand and the CANNITO group on the other joined together, thus creating a single mafia-type organization aimed at drug trafficking, extortions and other smuggling activities. This organization is allegedly headed by CANNITO Cosimo Damiano, LATTANZIO Ruggero and MATTEUCCI Antonio.
As to the province, however, the situation is quite alarming, not only for the fact that several criminal bands are still involved in robberies and other illicit smuggling activities, but also for the increasingly widespread consumption of drugs, in particular ecstasy, and the fact that poppy plantations found in this area suggest that a processing plant may exist in the area.
As to Trani, in particular, there is a group heavily involved in trafficking activities and extensive drug distribution, whose leading figures are CONVERSANO Sabino and LAPENNA Giuseppe.
Profit-making smuggling activities continue to lure people; indeed, a new and well equipped group was identified between Polignano a Mare and Conversano. This group, headed by COLELLA Vito Modesto and consisting of other twenty individuals, is equipped with radar, radio-stations, hulls and vehicles..1.b The Province of Brindisi Due to the pressing and constant action of the police forces and the lasting internal conflicts, the organized crime operating in this area appears to be deeply divided.
During the last period, significant police operations culminated in the arrest of PRUDENTINO Francesco and DI EMIDIO Vito, contributed to further weaken reduce the organized crime of this province.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the criminal organizations were already divided into the “Mesagnesi” group and the “Nuova Sacra Corona Libera” group.
The fact that D’AMICO Massimo and CINIERI Massimo, who are considered as two new figures of the “Mesagnesi” group, accepted to become cooperating witnesses caused a strong internal tension within the Brindisi organized crime, even if at present the establishment of a sort of diarchy, represented by Antonio VITALE and Massimo PASIMENI makes the control of the organization easier.
In order to try to offset the decreased income, caused by the difficulty to get cigarette supplies because of police counteraction, the clans enhanced their drug and war arm trafficking activities. The Brindisi port appears to be one of the main landing points where goods coming in containers from Greek or Albanian ports are unloaded.
1.c The Province of Foggia.As to this province, the situation is characterised by a strong presence of criminal organizations, the most threatening of which are settled in the Gargano area, Foggia, San Severo and Cerignola. A recent analysis allowed the development, activities and modi operandi of the local criminal groups be defined.
As to Foggia, where the so-called “società foggiana” can rely on 120 members approximately, a resumption of extortions and an increase in arsons were observed, parallel to the release from prison of some old representatives of local crime.
However, the most alarming situation affects the town of Cerignola.
As to Cerignola area, besides a strong presence of petty crime, particularly involved
in car thefts (the so-called “cavalli di ritorno”) and robberies, it is worth mentioning the “TADDONE” organization, headed by Leonardo DI TOMMASO. At present, this clan controls all illicit activities, especially extortions and drug trafficking. Some info-operational activities give reason to believe that it is also trying to participate in tenders for public works, through enterprises linked to DI TOMMASO.
Following the return of some local prominent figures, the town of San Severo showed a sharp increase in the number of extortions and car thefts as well. The various criminal groups operating in this area did not reach an agreement on how to live together; this is why the current truce may be interrupted as soon as the current resources of the illicit market decrease..The Gargano area is to be considered as a high-risk area in terms of public security.
Besides the constant landing of illegal immigrants, that led the local authorities to set up permanent refugee camps, an alarming factor is the reviving in the Monte Sant’Angelo area of the ten-year conflict between the “ALFIERI-PRIMOSA-BASTA”
clan and the “LIBERGOLIS” clan. The murder of three members of the “ALFIERI-PRIMOSA-BASTA” clan, committed at Sannicandro Garganico, marked the conflict resumption.
1.d The Province of Lecce
Organized crime groups operating in Lecce have not yet reached an internal balance, in spite of some signs of reconciliation between the major clans of the area, i.e. the DE TOMMASI clan and the TORNESE clan. During an ambush laid at Surbo last March 13, a criminal named NEGRO Fabrice and an innocent individual passing by were murdered. This ambush stressed the lasting conflict between the VICENTI group from Surbo (linked with the PELLEGRINO group and the PERRONE group from Squinzano and Trepuzzi respectively) and the DE TOMMASI-TOMA group from Campi Salentina.
As to the Northern-Eastern area of this province, having its focus in the town of Monteroni, the TORNESE clan recovered its strength, especially in the drug sector.
Within this clan, a leading role was taken on by TORNESE Angelo, who is still recognised as the head of the criminal family. He is Mario’s brother..Also as to the TORNESE organization, we can say that the fact of being incarcerated did not weaken the membership link, nor represented an insuperable difficulty to influence life on the territory and direct various criminal activities. It is in this way that, according to investigations, a violent bombing against MARTELLA Claudio, brother of Salvatore, a cooperating witness who abandoned the TORNESE organization, allegedly was planned.
In spite of the repetition of similar conflicts, that however involve only a limited area of this province, some specific facts, that are being analysed, give reason to believe that the leaders of the Salento area clans (including representatives of new mafia-type organizations) are trying to create a new criminal subject and eliminate what remained from the so-called “nuova sacra corona unita”.
The resumption of activities such as organized extortions and bombings, as well as robberies using the breaking technique at detriment of tobacconists’, jewellers’ and banks, are all factors that indicate that mafia clans in this area are very vital.
1.e The Province of Taranto
At present, this province is the least exposed to the recrudescence of organized crime
conflicts. Judicial results obtained in the province of Taranto allowed the old mafia-type organizations be hit. However, the release from prison of some leading figures apparently resulted in a worsening of the public security situation..Indeed, during these six months, several bombings against shops occurred, thus clearly indicating that some organizations resumed extortions and try to regain the control of the territory also by using loan-sharking.
Organized crime operating in Taranto and its province is traditionally linked with the ‘ndrangheta. This is why we can assume that this phase, characterised both by bombings for extortions purposes and a relative peace among the groups, may be the result of a strategy aimed at letting the groups from Calabria safely manage some illicit activities, particularly drug trafficking and alien smuggling.
Furthermore, attention should be focused on the role played by a neighbouring region, i.e. Basilicata. Indeed, Basilicata is increasingly involved in activities that are beneficial to the Taranto organizations, particularly the SCARCI organization, as well as to mafia-type organizations from other regions. Recent investigations revealed that a small bank, called “Banca di credito cooperativo della Val Melandro”, located in Satriano di Lucania, allegedly accepted to launder monies and make other illicit transactions, also in favour of members of well-known mafia-type organizations.
1. Foreign cigarette smuggling
As police investigations repeatedly showed, it is a recognised fact that cigarette smuggling is a sector traditionally managed by the organized crime. Organized crime groups strictly control all its phases, i.e. the purchase from tobacco multinational.companies, through intermediary companies, storage in foreign countries, payments made through holding companies and foreign banks located in countries that “do not pay special attention” to this phenomenon, cigarette introduction in Italy (and from Italy in Europe) with the relevant marketing controlled also during the retail sale, and finally the reinvestment and laundering of capital.
Recent and complex investigations shed light on this business. In this regard, great significance must be attributed to the arrest of CUOMO Gerardo, from Campania, that meant the elimination of one of the cornerstones of international large drug trafficking. It cannot be excluded that following his extradition from Switzerland to Italy (occurred last June 29) investigators may exploit this “advantage position” in order to get further useful information.
Generally speaking, cigarette smuggling activity can be analytically described as divided in two large sectors – - one sector involved in the complex organization of all physical operations of cigarette smuggling, i.e. storage, transport, marketing, etc.
- the other sector, which is closely interrelated, involved in all those aspects concerning the establishment of fictitious companies, intermediaries’ role, connections and the use of financial-criminal “know how” required to manage the huge cash capital obtained from cigarette smuggling..As to the storage of foreign cigarettes, destined for sale and distribution throughout Italy, countries facing the Adriatic Sea, such as Montenegro, Macedonia and Albany, were preferred. However, cigarette smugglers apparently changed this trend, in that they showed to be interested also in countries such as the Netherlands, Greece and Cyprus.
Furthermore, the modus operandi to introduce cigarette shipments is changing, in that cigarette smugglers use old routes and modi operandi – unloading of cigarette shipments on Calabria and Sicily coasts and shuttle boats between the coast and the “parent” ship anchored offshore (“extra-inspective smuggling”).
There was also an increase in the flow of foreign cigarettes illicitly introduced by semi-trailers and containers that transit through the customs areas (intra-inspective smuggling) using false or counterfeited documents.
At present, money laundering and the related investment of illicit proceeds is of primary importance for all criminal associations. The forthcoming introduction of euro induces and obliges criminals to get rid of deposits made in the various European currencies.
Also in this case, criminals used the traditional modi operandi, such as the purchase of real estate or businesses or resorted to less known methods such as the purchase of precious metals (in particular, silver)..In other words, in order to manage the complex activities related to smuggling, criminal groups need to rely on a highly refined “mastermind” that deals with:
- the establishment of international intermediary companies, whose exclusive task is that of acting as link between international cigarette producers and holders of import licences issued in no EU countries;
- the establishment of relations and agreements with no European government representatives;
- the establishment of a network of sub-licensees who purchase the cigarettes from the licence holders and sell them to smugglers. Indeed, these sub-licensees are simply a further shield to make the identification of the holder of the main licence more difficult.
The assumption which is outlined is that the large-scale smuggling activities are not headed by the Apulia organized crime figures but by well-disguised figures belonging to other mafia-type organizations from the Southern Italy.
Therefore in this regard the most significant aspect is the apparent lack of conflict among the organizations currently involved in cigarette smuggling, especially in the light of the heavy difficulties smugglers are faced with along the “Balkan route” and the current European markets. Hence, in this context, it seems reasonable to include also the strategy that led some groups to turn to the Chinese market, as the significant seizures of foreign cigarettes of Chinese origin made over the last years showed..3. Analytical studies
As previously planned, during this six-month period, an analysis titled “Apulia organized crime fugitives arrested outside their province of origin” requested by Direzione Nazionale Antimafia (Antimafia National Public Prosecutor’s Office) was completed and published.
The report was aimed at establishing links and forms of connivance, if any, with criminal groups present in the other Italian regions and outlining the relations that fugitives of Apulian origin established in regions other than Apulia. Follow-up investigations are under way.
During this period, two new analysis studies were planned and started.
The first analysis study refers to the reconstruction of links currently established between groups of Apulia organized crime and some typical mafia-type clans.
Understanding these links is of crucial importance in order to reconstruct the current situation of Apulia organized crime in a coherent way. Indeed, current investigative results apparently support the assumption that the management of significant criminal business activities and the reinvestment of the relevant proceeds may be the result of a sort of unitary joint management with other mafia-type organizations..Some logic investigative cues, surfaced during the analysis of Lecce organized crime, suggested to focus attention on those economic-financial sectors which are mostly affected by the huge flows of smuggling proceeds. The work, which is still in its early stage, not only aims at monitoring this sector and countering money laundering, but above all at shedding light on mafia infiltration, if any, in crucial sectors of the local economy.
As to smuggling proceeds, a recent analysis on “Organized Crime and illicit economy within the district of the Bari Court of Appeal”, underlines that only a very small part of the huge proceeds obtained from illicit economy, and smuggling in particular, is destined for investment and accumulation. This report detected some sectors of the legitimate economy that are the most exposed to the infiltration risk; the report also stresses that these sectors are controlled by the mafia-type organizations due to the liquidity at zero cost and the intimidation power that characterise mafia clans.
E. FOREIGN ORGANIZED CRIME
1. General
Legal immigration, but especially illegal immigration, has created a new and profitable “business”, linked with other illicit activities including notably the human being trafficking in its two forms of trafficking and smuggling, and a spur of arm.trafficking. These are all activities in which foreign criminal groups are involved in a more or less organized form with local criminals.
In general, countering efforts made in these six months confirmed that these foreign criminal groups are not in Italy by chance and on some occasions, but that they live here and operate in an organized way, especially those ones linked to organizations from Albania, former USSR, China and Nigeria.
In detail, as to alien smuggling:
- Nigerians developed a modi operandi of their own to let their nationals enter Italy, i.e. a few persons at a time, who reach Italy by transiting other European countries of the Schengen area.
- At the beginning, clans from countries of the former Soviet bloc relied on the support of Albanian hull drivers, while today tend to increasingly choice autonomous routes and exploit the several bus services established over the last years.
- The Chinese often use the same modi operandi as the Albanians, at least as to the final entry in Italy through the Channel of Otranto, although they do not neglect the traditional Balkan route with the necessary support of the Slavian “passeur” organizations..- Albanians have specialised as professional “ferrymen” of the various ethnic groups, i.e. Chinese, Afghans, Pakistanis, Kurds and generally speaking immigrants from Euro-Asian region.
As to the alien smuggling “business”, an important role is played by the Turkish organized crime groups, especially as far as individuals of Kurdish origin are concerned. The Turkish organized crime groups manage the flow of immigrants by using the notorious “old skulls”, and, as to Italy, prefer to use the coasts of Apulia and Calabria as landing points.
As to the sector of sexual exploitation, next to a sort of monopoly managed by the Albanians (white prostitutes) and Nigerians (black prostitutes), attention should be
focused on a quite recent phenomenon, i.e. the sexual exploitation of Chinese women, whose customers are no longer Chinese nationals only, but also individuals from other ethnic groups. Lombardy and Tuscany are the regions where this
phenomenon became evident first.
As to drug trafficking, foreign criminal organizations, particularly Albanians and partially Nigerians, deal with the most critical phase of activities related to links with producers and transport at an international level. Albanians deal with huge amounts and Nigerians with small amounts respectively. It is a recognised fact that there is a steady link between Italian criminal organizations and Albanian organizations that act.as suppliers while in general Nigerians apparently run on their own the cycle ranging from transport to distribution.
Large scale arm trafficking is undoubtedly a prerequisite of criminals coming from countries of the former Soviet bloc, as the most recent police operations showed. In this regard, because of its position in the Mediterranean Sea, Italy is a very good geographic area to manage and direct these trafficking activities, aimed at arming the rival factions of the various regional conflicts, especially in Africa and Asia. As to arm trafficking managed by the Albanians, it is mainly aimed at providing arms to criminal groups operating in Italy.
As to the reinvestment of money of dubious origin, it is actively carried out both by
the Chinese and members of Eastern European criminal organizations.
2. Former-USSR Organized Crime
This form of crime has taken on the characteristics and size typical of a “holding” of groups organized at an international level according specific spheres of influence and mutual links in the carrying out of illicit activities.
A high number of members, a widespread presence in almost all the Western European countries, a constant mobility, a great availability of money, a deep knowledge of corporate and financial markets, are all factors that in general characterise the former USSR organized crime, that continues to operate in Italy.mainly in the field of arm trafficking, money laundering and financial offences, besides using Italy for legal and illicit business meetings, as shown by police investigations (the arrest of ZHUKOV Alexander and MININ Leonid) carried out in this six-month period, that revealed the existence of a significant trafficking of war material, coming from the former USSR countries and destined to countries subject to UN embargo, besides the existence of huge financial and business interest of unjustified origin in Italy and the neighbouring countries.
Furthermore, there are signs on how in Italy, next to geographic areas already known such as Marche, Sardinia, Emilia Romagna, Lombardy and Piedmont, individuals, particularly from the Russian Federation and Ukraine, linked with the criminal organizations of the so-called Russian Mafia, continue to infiltrate the social and economic texture.
3. Albanian organized crime The activity carried out in these six months confirmed the previous deductions – the main Albanian criminal organizations, which are characterised by a most remarkable mafia-like cut, are taking on an increasingly prominent role in the criminal Italian and international context, both in alien smuggling and in the related prostitution exploitation, as well as in drug trafficking activities, that are managed with.professionalism; furthermore, they have no form of subjection to native organizations, thus succeeding in creating well-established connections with various groups from Apulia, camorra and “cosa nostra”, to which they constantly supply drugs.
Recent police investigations shed light on direct relations established with the “Colombian cartels”, that in particular are allegedly interested in diverting the cocaine flows from the Northern Europe ports, especially Dutch ports, to the more “secure” Albany. It cannot be excluded that cocaine processing plants may have been established in Albany, because of the presence in the market of the “pink” cocaine, i.e. cocaine coming from Albany and probably processed there.
Another recognised fact refers to the relations established with the Turkish mafia involving both the thriving heroin business and alien smuggling of immigrants from the South Eastern Asia.
Next to these large criminal organizations operating at a transnational level, there are still smaller groups having a family structure, which often consist of illicit immigrants. These smaller groups are involved in the same illicit trafficking activities as the large criminal organizations, especially prostitution exploitation, though
relying on less developed organizational and criminal skills. However, they keep the.young victims in a condition of slavery, by using violence or threatening forms of retaliation against their family members still living in their countries of origin.
4. Nigerian organized crime The creation of an analysis database called “JUJU” allowed to verify the existence of an organized crime phenomenon which is only apparently marginal, that is actually well rooted and surreptitiously structured at a national and international level, with clear-cut potential mafia-type intrinsic characteristics”.
The uniformity of modi operandi used in the management of illicit trafficking activities, together with the evidence of connections among criminal groups operating at a transnational level, give reason to believe that these groups exported a criminal sub-culture rooted in their country of origin, that tried and managed to express itself also in other parts of the world, Italy included, in order to further develop their scope of activity and profits, thus becoming part of a wider global criminal scenario.
Indeed, the data analysis confirmed and stressed that there is a racket of illicit immigration and related exploitation of prostitution, which is well structured on the national territory, particularly in Triveneto, Ligury, Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna and Lazio. As to the Southern Italy, the only area is Campania, that has the same problems as the above mentioned regions; here the local criminal groups and.Nigerian criminal groups established a sort of threatening agreement that indicates the potential and pervasive threat of Nigerian criminal groups.
Furthermore, the Nigerian criminal groups showed clear interests at an international level and definite contacts with their country of origin, that allow them to guarantee a constant inflow of human “goods”.
Next to these groups, and sometimes in a sort of overlapping, there are groups involved in drug trafficking, usually linked at an international level with the drug producer through members of their own living in loco. The possibility of dealing directly with the suppliers guarantees huge profits in the following phases of distribution, and indicates the high level of organization achieved by these criminal organizations that is difficult to be wholly reconstructed by investigators.
Indeed these organizations, whenever are the target of investigations, comply with the strategy of keeping a definitely low profile and manage to make their operational efficiency “invisible” or however not significant, even in relation to the criminal organizations they are in contact with, especially as to drug trafficking. In short, they tend not to use violence against third parties, and organize and plan illicit deals with other groups, trying to avoid useless conflicts. Since they are not linked to a specific territory, whenever they feel to be strictly controlled by investigators, they move to other areas..Criminal activities carried out by this ethnic group include the exploitation of prostitution and drug trafficking, as well as document counterfeiting. Actually, the latter is a preliminary activity compared to the other activities and is usually carried
out in their country of origin.
Finally, attention should be focused on money laundering activities and reinvestment
of illicit proceeds, i.e. activities that are widely confirmed. It is the case of proceeds obtained from prostitution that are reinvested in drug trafficking. However, as to money investments, there is an increasing tendency to invest money to start entrepreneurial activities in the business and tertiary sectors with signs that indicate that the invested monies are of illicit origin.
The intelligence activity also allowed to ascertain the use of specific criminal modi operandi that have not yet been investigated thoroughly, because of their close interrelation with apparently licit activities and even activities of social benefit.
In short, compared to the concept of crime generally accepted, that is easier to be eradicated, here we are faced with a particular departure from it that indicates a professionally “refined” and implemented organized crime.
5. Chinese organized crime.Compared to the previous six-month period, the analysis activity on the Chinese crime did not change significantly. The Chinese crime continues to silently and progressively infiltrate in some business sectors of the main Italian cities and whole districts have become small “Chinatown”, both in the traditional areas of Central and Northern Italy and, most recently, in some capital cities of the Southern Italy, such as Naples, and its hinterland, and Bari. This expansion does not involve only strictly ethnic businesses, but also businesses of more European cut.
The strength of these “new” Chinese entrepreneurs is their availability of huge cash capital, that allows them to buy products at definitely higher prices and manage the working process at a definitely lower price, by using a low cost manpower consisting of individuals of the same nationality that are kept in slavery-like conditions.
However, the considerable cash capital owned is not easily justifiable by proceeds, that however are significant, obtained by the management of businesses. Conversely, huge capital may be derived from unauthorised leather goods factories and the increasingly widespread counterfeiting of famous fashion trademarks, as well as from criminal activities in detriment of individuals of their same nationality, such as kidnappings for extortion purposes, extortions, illegal gambling, and last but not the least, prostitution exploitation. The latter is a developing phenomenon in that prostitutes’ customers are also from other ethnic groups..As to illegal immigration through the Otranto channel, synergic connections are increasingly frequent among the Chinese and Albanian criminal groups. Chinese criminals are also increasingly linked with criminal groups from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro as to the North-East transit, as several police operations
showed during this six-month period. It is by now very frequent that police forces also control immigrants of Chinese origin, besides illegal immigrants from Albania, Kurdistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh..F. PART II
PREVENTIVE INVESTIGATIONS
A. THE FIGHT AGAINST MONEY LAUNDERING
In this period no significant change was recorded as to law provisions and their enforcement by the Supreme Court in the field of money laundering and infiltration of legitimate economy by the organized crime.
1. Suspicious Transactions Reporting Operational activities were focused on the assessment of reported suspicious
transactions that must be sent to the UIC (Italian Exchange Office) under art. 3, Law 197/91, in order to detect reports involving financial transactions linked with organized crime.
In this six-month period, 1,358 new reports were received and 1,076 reports were fully processed.
The activity carried out implied:
- more than 4,000 checks with available electronic databases and paper records;
- the analysis of the objective content of reports;
- in-depth investigative checks carried out both directly and by activating the Field Offices, of 85 reports previously analysed;.- the transmission by this Office of 55 information reports to the Suspicious Financial Transaction Service established within the DNA.
Finally, as a result of a suspicious transaction report, a preventive custody warrant against 7 individuals was executed for the money laundering offences under arts.
648-bis and 648-ter, Criminal Code).
As to powers delegated to the DIA Director:
- On request of a field office operating in a region exposed to money laundering risk, a request for bank checks on a reported individual was made and the relevant bank access order was enforced.
- A request for information was served to “Poste Italiane S.p.a.”, in order to detect operational anomalies, if any, in some branches operating in areas exposed to the money laundering risk.
2. International relations
As to relations with Bodies and governmental agencies interested in the fight against money laundering, the fruitful contacts established with the central supervising bodies, i.e. the Bank of Italy, the Italian Exchange Office and CONSOB, have been enhanced in a spirit of appreciated and qualified cooperation..At an international level, reports of suspicious transactions made by Italian nationals in another EU country or anyhow related to Italian nationals continue to be analysed and developed (Project Concorde).
At an international level, a significant contribution of expertise and ideas was also made by experts in the following international fora on money laundering:
- The Partnership of the Alpine countries
- participation in the organization of the Meeting of the Ministries of Interior from Italy, Austria, France, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, held in Catania last March;
- participation in the Working Group tasked with partial projects on
“Laundering of illicit proceeds”;
- meeting in Vaduz of the anti money laundering experts.
- Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
- participation both in Plenary and working group meetings, including the working group tasked with the drawing up of a list of the countries and jurisdictions that do not cooperate in the fight against money laundering of illicit proceeds;
- assessment of legislation against money laundering of one of the countries to be submitted to the FATF Plenary meeting for its inclusion, if necessary, in the list of not cooperating countries..B. CONTROL OF TENDERS
Our office still monitored enterprises involved in the construction of the national “High Speed” railway network (T.A.V.), in the “Operational Program concerning Water Resources in the Southern Italy”, in the operational program called “Security in the Southern Italy”, and “…in all other public works where police authorities can detect the danger of infiltration or influence by the organized crime groups..”(from an order issued in April 1999 by the Chief of Police).
In this regard, in order to detect mafia organizations’ infiltration into contracts and/or their influence on them, a special multi-agency group was established. To achieve this objective, this group collects data on the enterprises that from time to time are involved and analyses them. Finally, the analysis reports are then supplemented by information provided by the three police forces’ Central Services.
The method used by the multi-agency group is that of sample checks on companies (directors and members) that, as of 1990, have established relations with the enterprises involved in the works.
During these six months, various institutional bodies have carried on some initiatives that, though not directly affecting the activity of the multi-agency working group, can.have beneficial repercussions on the efficiency and efficacy of all bodies tasked with countering mafia-type infiltration in public tenders.
However, although only for the specific areas falling within its mission (T.A.V., Operational Program concerning Water Resources in the Southern Italy, Security in the Southern Italy) DIA confirmed to the Prefetti of Rome and Reggio Calabria respectively, its availability to cooperate and appointed special officers in charge.
Finally, the multi-agency working group extended its work also to the enterprises involved in renovation works of the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway. From January to June of this year, with regard to the operational programs it is tasked with, the multi-agency working group developed and sent to the competent Prefetture, for the further assessment falling within their competence, the results of the checks< conducted on 10 enterprises involved in the works, including the analysis of 197 enterprises and global checks on 318 individuals.
C. EXTORTIONS
A report on the phenomenon of extortions in the Southern Italy was drawn up with a view to analysing the various methods used to request “protection money”. In particular, considering the social alarm caused by this criminal activity in the public opinion, this report aimed at analysing and describing this phenomenon, underlining how and to what extent organized crime operates on a regular basis in specific areas of the Southern Italy..The report dealt with various aspects of this phenomenon in the Southern Italy, by differentiating the various sectors affected, the modus operandi used to request “protection money” and the psychological pressure exerted against victims.
Finally, it analysed some forms to counter this phenomenon as well as the possible forms of money laundering ensuing from it.
The report also includes reference to law provisions concerning the contribution allocated by the Government to the victims of extortions who decide to cooperate.
D. APPLICATION OF THE SPECIAL INCARCERATION REGIME (under art. 41bis of the Prison Legislation)
On June 30, 2001, information provided by this office during these six months, allowed 543 special incarceration orders already enforced be renewed and further 82 special incarceration orders be enforced for the first time to mafia inmates.
The whole activity involved the drawing up of 625 information reports (information logs). Information logs provided to the DAP (Prison Administration Department) are
subdivided as follows, according to the criminal organization of origin:
- Cosa Nostra 289
- ‘Ndrangheta 162
- Camorra 118
- Sacra Corona Unita 54.- Other mafia-type groups 2
- Total 625
By law-decree nr. 341, dated November 24, 2000 containing “Urgent provisions to make justice administration effective” this legislation was further postponed to December 31, 2002..
E. DEFENCE OF INDIGENTS, LAW nr. 134 March 29, 2001
During these six months, judicial offices received some 10,000 requests for information aimed at providing indigent individuals with a public defender. The 85% of these requests did not indicate the legislative provision (art. 51, para. 3 bis, Code of Criminal Procedure, individual proposed for or subject to preventive measures) that empowers DIA to process such requests under the above mentioned legislation.
The requests are being returned to the requesting Offices for their rewording, if any, according to the new provisions. As to the remaining 15% (1,500 approximately), 730 requests are being processed, while 770 requests have already been sorted out.
F. PREVENTIVE INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT THROUGH THE EXERCISE
OF POWERS ENTRUSTED TO THE DIA DIRECTOR.During these six months, the Director forwarded to the competent Courts 28 proposals for the application of personal and asset-related preventive measures.
Twenty-five personal and asset-related preventive measures application orders, concerning previous proposals by the DIA Director or Public Prosecutor’s Offices having territorial jurisdiction, were enforced, and assets amounting to Lit. 115,318,000,000 were seized or confiscated.
In particular:
1. Proposed preventive measures
The DIA Director forwarded 28 proposals for the application of personal or asset-related
preventive measures to the following courts -
- 9 to the Court of Santa Maria Capua Vetere
- 6 to the Court of Palermo
- 6 to the Court of Reggio Calabria
- 3 to the Court of Catania
- 2 to the Court of Trapani
- 1 to the Court of Potenza
- 1 to the Court of Rimini.2. Applied preventive measures
On DIA Director’s proposal
?? In enforcing 15 seizure orders issued by the Courts of Catania, Turin, Vibo Valentia, S.M.C.V., Palermo, Reggio Calabria and Trapani, the Field Offices and Sections having territorial jurisdiction seized assets amounting to Lit. 71,100,000,000.
?? In enforcing 5 confiscation orders issued by the Courts of Bologna, Vibo Valentia, Lecce, S.M.C.V., assets amounting to Lit. 15,278,000,000 were confiscated.
On proposal by the Public Prosecutor’s Offices concerned:
?? In enforcing 4 seizure orders issued by the Courts of Palermo and Reggio Calabria, following the conclusion of asset-related investigations delegated by the competent Judicial Authority, the local Field Offices and Sections seized assets amounting to Lit. 10,320,000,000.
?? In enforcing 2 confiscation orders issued by the Courts of Reggio Calabria and Rome, following the conclusion of asset-related investigations delegated by the competent Judicial Authority, the Field Offices confiscated assets amounting to Lit. 20,120,000,000.
.PART III INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
In compliance with law provisions that expressly entrust DIA with the task of investigating international connections of criminal organizations, the activities carried out during these six months especially prioritised the development and strengthening of relations with foreign law enforcement agencies and international bodies, as well as the assessment of prerequisites for establishing new forms of cooperation to support specific operational activities.
In detail, these activities involved - the strengthening of relations with counterparts from Europe, America and other countries, preferring bilateral contacts, based on well-tested cooperation mechanisms existing at an international government level; - the analysis collection on the modi operandi of illicit trafficking activities managed by transnational criminal organizations, through the
participation in working groups at a ministerial level;
- the participation of DIA representatives in international meetings and
seminars of specific institutional interest, where the presence of experts
in the fight against organized crime or specific criminal activities such as
money laundering is required;
- the organization of ad hoc meetings with representatives from its
counterparts, aimed at exchanging information and harmonising
investigative procedures to counter organized crime;.- the support to DIA headquarters and field offices in conducting
investigations, preventive activities and establishing relations with
foreign counterparts by using INTERPOL and DCSA for investigations
on drugs..A. COOPERATION WITH NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL BODIES
Multilateral co-operation is the adequate response to the new challenges posed by organized crime, which by establishing some agreements at a transnational level, widened its potentials and, consequently, demanded supranational counteraction
strategies.
Upon the enforcement of the Europol Convention, ratified by law n. 93/1998, the exchange of information with Europol, carried out through the Italian National Unit, was extended to criminal analysis and to the drafting of specific info-operational and< preventive projects concerning lookouts and specific investigations.
In such a context, D.I.A. participated in meetings of Member States Experts.
Through the National Unit, the Member States sent to D.I.A. a total of n.177 lookouts, out of which n. 3 were of interest for D.I.A. As in the previous years, during the time-period under review, detailed answers were given to the questionnaire drafted by the Working Group “PC-CO Organized Crime” of the Council of Europe.
D.I.A. participated as well in the proceedings of the Group of Experts, in charge of negotiating the amendments to the EEC Directive 91/308 on money laundering, and opinions were issued on the subject according to ECOFIN/JAI joint Councils.
Moreover, D.I.A. gave its contribution to the co-operation and assistance in place between the European Union and the Third Countries..Within the PHARE Programme, fostered by the European Commission, D.I.A.
participated in the twinning initiatives implemented with Lithuania, Slovenia, Romania, through stages held at D.I.A. in May and June, aimed at Public Prosecutors and Officers of those countries.
With regard to the multilateral co-operation, an active participation was ensured in the numerous international fora, since they represent a substantial response to the new challenges posed by organized crime.
Among the most relevant activities carried out during this semester, it is worthwhile mentioning D.I.A. participation in the following meeting:
?? G8 – meetings of the Lyon Group, “Law Enforcement Projects” Subgroup:
?? Rome, March 2 nd , the Guardia di Finanza illustrated the implementation of its Operations Plan on the project concerning cigarette smuggling;
?? Rome, March 12 – 16, during which, under the Italian Chairmanship, several issues were dealt with, in connection with the 40 recommendations of the Lyon Group, the international co-operation and the expected evolution of transnational< organized crime. D.I.A. illustrated a report concerning the activities performed by
Eastern Europe organized crime, Russia in particular, and in connection with the
meeting of EEOC (Eastern European Organized Crime) Working Group held in
Moscow on March 1 – 2, 2001;
?? Central Europe Initiative (C.E.I.) D.I.A. participated in the proceedings of the
Group in the field of fight against organized crime, with a special reference to
money laundering. In such a framework, the questionnaire was updated and a.summary on the fight against money laundering in the countries party to the
initiative was issued.
?? Financial Action Task Force (FATF):
?? Paris, January 29 – February 2, D.I.A. participated in the proceedings to identify
those countries which do not co-operate in the fight against money laundering.
During the meeting, the following issues were dealt with:
?? Possible legal and law enforcement counteraction, required to face the most recent forms of money laundering;
?? Possible amendments and updating to the 40 FATF Recommendations in force, to
adjust them to the new trends, which are being implemented to transfer funds with
the aid of the new technologies;
?? Paris, June 18-22. D.I.A. sent a representative to FATF plenary session during which the following was discussed:
?? Measures were undertaken to improve, at world level, law enforcement activity against money laundering through the updating of the so called “black list”, drafted in June 2000 and concerning the non-cooperating countries. On that circumstance, experts were able to assess the money laundering measures
implemented in a Latin American country, likely to be included in the black list.
?? The enforcement of specific counteraction measures was agreed upon against those countries, which by next September 2001, will not adopt urgent and adequate legal and operations provisions to fight against this specific phenomenon;.?? An updating process of the 40 Recommendations was started, which will take into account the most recent access channels to the international financial circuits, besides considering the development of money laundering techniques through the use of the information technology.
B. BILATERAL CO-OPERATION
1. Countries of the American Continent
The steady contacts and exchange of information maintained with the police bodies confirm the soundness of our long-standing relations.
The consequent profitable co-operation set forth, allowed to investigate and develop operations of common interest.
United States of America Investigations are under way in co-operation with the US police agencies and with the assistance of our British, German, Dutch and Spanish counterparts, in order to identify the international crime groups responsible for the laundering of drug-related proceeds.
In such a framework, in February, an info-operational meeting was held in this Directorate.
The co-operation concerned a money laundering investigation related to a crime group from Latin America dealing with international drug trafficking. In such a context, with the aim of agreeing upon a common strategy, in the month of April a co-ordination meeting was held in the States..Canada In the period under review, an investigation was initiated with the Canadian
counterpart, into subjects belonging to the organized crime operating both in Italy and Canada.
2. Australia
Co-operation relations went on with the Australian police bodies, to ensure a steady exchange of information concerning Italian and foreign nationals involved in an international drug trafficking.
3. European Union Countries
Namely: ?? Austria. With the Austrian Edok, a specialized agency framed in the Central Services of organized crime and drug trafficking, relations were constant and intensive.
In particular:
?? With regard to investigations, they refer to connections of Austrian nationals or residents with the Italian criminal milieu in the field of immigration, drug trafficking, money laundering etcetera; ?? To improve relations, from January 18 to 19, within the operation Vlada an info-operational meeting was carried out in Turin, with the participation of EDOK representatives and of the Austrian Judiciary, aimed at an exchange of information on associates of a Russian crime group dealing with international arms trafficking;.?? Belgium. We improved the exchange of information with our Belgian counterpart, both for investigative purposes and to identify the consolidated mafia-type crime syndicates. With regard to the operation “Argo”, a constant exchange of information was maintained with the Belgian police, in order to identify the management and organization of a crime group dealing with the smuggling of foreign cigarettes; ?? France. An exchange of information was initiated with the French police:
?? To ascertain the relations between a mafia figure and some residents in France; ?? With regard to the operation “Cento”, a follow up of the operation “Bingo 2”, aimed at detecting subjects connected with a crime group dealing with international drug trafficking.
?? The co-operation with the French TRACFIN with regard to the Project Concorde, dealing with money laundering preventive investigations, is still under way;
?? Germany. The consolidated exchange of information maintained with the German BKA developed both in the field of preventive and judicial investigations with a special reference to money laundering-related activities.
Among the numerous judicial investigations initiated in Germany under the co-ordination of BKA, DIA provided assistance to three operations in particular.
Moreover, two significant investigations into money laundering and smuggling were started..With regard to analysis, the exchange of information aims at attaining a picture on the presence of mafia syndicates in the German territory, in particular the ‘ndrangheta and cosa nostra associates;
- Greece. During the last semester, an exchange of information with the Greek counterpart was carried out concerning the operation Argo; the investigation was aimed at counteracting an international smuggling of foreign cigarettes; - United Kingdom. A steady exchange of information was carried out with the British counterpart regarding the operation “Property”: it was aimed at locating assets related to cosa nostra figures in the field of money laundering.
- The exchange of information concerning the operation “Maestrale” went on, in order to fight against a mafia-type criminal conspiracy aimed at smuggling foreign cigarettes.
- With regard to money laundering, the exchange of information with the British counterpart was carried on as far as the operation “Gioco d’Azzardo” was concerned; it is an investigation into money laundering-related activities and drug trafficking.
- With regard to money laundering, significant results were achieved through the reporting of suspicious financial transactions associated with figures who operate as financial operators in the international criminal milieu. This initiative supported some judicial actions, besides obtaining information on the flows of the illic it proceeds. The above aims as well at supporting the activities.carried out by DIA field offices, which require a constant updating both at enforcement and preventive level.
- In the semester under review, such an attitude represent a new operational approach in the fight against international money laundering.
- On May 16, a meeting was held at DIA with regard to the operation Random, with the participation of a British Delegation from NCIS (National Criminal Intelligence Service); the purpose was to check some information which had surfaced from the same operation and to promote, in Great Britain, further investigative leads on a drug trafficking destined to United Kingdom; - Spain. The most relevant investigations carried out in Spain are affected by international drug trafficking coming from South America. The investigation in question deals with a crime group operating in drug trafficking, bound for the Italian market. In such a context, the operation is also aimed at locating fugitives and at enhancing the information support required to develop this sort of activity.
- A recent investigation was initiated to identify the drug import channels used by the Albanian crime groups operating in Italy. The investigations, co-ordinated by DCSA, needed the assistance of Spain to carry out specific police activities;
- Principality of Monaco. A preliminary negotiation was carried out to reach an agreement on money laundering between the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Principality. At operations level, a police exchange of.information is already in place between DIA and the Direction de la Sureté Publique, with the aim of detecting those significant financial transactions connected with the criminals, who illicitly operate in the Principality.
4. European countries (not included in the European Union) - During the semester in question, we maintained, improved and upgraded those international relations bound to increase the law enforcement activity, at preventive and law enforcement level, against the Eastern European organized crime.
- In particular, the bilateral activity was accomplished as follows:
- Switzerland. Meeting held in Rome from May 30 to June 1, with the participation of a Swiss delegation of the Federal Judicial Police, during which project COS was illustrated (Soviet Organized Crime) and an agreement was reached with the foreign counterpart with the aim of exchanging information on the Eastern European organized crime and of updating furthermore the precited project as devised by D.I.A.
- The operations ORSO, VLADA and CRNA GORA fall within this framework, and a proposal on an additional Protocol concerning the Agreement of Police Co-operation of 1997 was put forward. It entails the direct co-operation between D.I.A. and the Swiss Federal Police Dept. (UFP)
in the field of organized crime;
- Albania. Mission to Albania. The secondment of two DIA officers, to a new Interdepartmental Liaison Office set in Tirana (Albania) to assist the newly.born office, in collecting and reviewing the information concerning the criminal phenomena and the trafficking which affect the criminality of both countries. In such a context, updated information are being gathered to update the project SHQIPERIA;
- Hungary. As to Hungary, pursuant to the rogatory commission accomplished
in the operation Vlada, preliminary contacts were started with the Hungarian
counterpart;
- Yugoslavia. With the Yugoslav Federation an info-operational meeting was carried out with the Belgrade judiciary, to accomplish an international rogatory commission and to review the documents seized from the same judiciary on the occasion of operation Vlada, Crna Gora and Crna Gora 2;
- Bulgaria. An info-operational exchange was carried out with the Bulgarian
counterpart with regard to the operation Arco;
- Russia and Israel. The exchange of information with Russia and Israel was aimed at the updating of the above-mentioned project COS.
C. OTHER INITIATIVES
1. D.I.A. officers participated in the following meetings:
?? In Rome, on April 27, 2001, on the topic “Russia: Eurasian and Northern Caucasian Policy”, carried out at the “Link Campus University of Malta” arranged by the study center G. Germani. The seminar was instrumental to better understand the criminal phenomena operating in that geographical area;.?? In Bucharest (Romania), on June 15-16, 2001, drafted by the British association Safeworld and the Foundation Eurisc, together with the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a report was submitted on the fight against transnational organized crime and the illicit arms trafficking.
?? With regard to the co-operation relations, many meetings were held with representatives of foreign counterparts, namely:
?? January 23-26, participation in the conference dealing with the strategies of the European Union and of the United States in the field of fight against organized crime, held in Gand (Belgium), under the auspices of the Belgian Chairmanship;
?? February 19-23 , stage arranged in favour of the new Hungarian investigative body called “Coordination Centre against organized crime”. The topic of the meeting was the Italian experience in the fight against organized crime, in particular the structure, tasks and activity carried out by D.I.A. Moreover, the circumstance was instrumental to getting to know each other and to start direct relations of co-operation;
?? April 27, Syracuse, the ISISC, Istituto Superiore Internazionale di Scienze Criminali, arranged a stage on D.I.A., destined to a group of Austrian Judges and senior officers of the Ministry of the Interior;
?? May 4, conference on “organized crime and money laundering” convened in Lyon (France), in the Falcone Programme, by the national school of the Judiciary and the National School of the French Police;.?? May 14, arrangement of a stage for ninety attendees concerning the 12 th National Course of the French National Security, during which the specific peculiarities of D.I.A. and its activities were illustrated;
?? May 28, visit of a Japanese police delegation. During the meeting, the delegates were acknowledged on the international criminal scenario operating in Italy, and on the law enforcement agencies in charge of fighting against organized crime;
?? May 30 – June 1, the new Director of the Swiss Federal Judicial Police described the operations of the Swiss agency and an exchange of information on the transnational organized crime took place;
?? June 25 – 26, a delegation of Turkish police officers visited D.I.A. to exchange information on organized crime. During the talks, several officers of SCO were present and the issue of corruption was dealt with..PART IV
MANAGEMENT OF THE DIA
OMISSIS.ENCLOSURE
POLICE OPERATIONS
The following police operations were accomplished during the first semester of the year 2001, connected with mafia-type National crime groups, foreign criminal syndicates and money laundering.
A. COSA NOSTRA
1. Operation Dionisio
In January 2001, in Catania, within an investigation started the previous year and aiming at dismantling a criminal conspiracy operating in the Lentini area (Catania), Francofonte (Catania) and Niscemi (Catania), 7 people were caught red-handed because of criminal conspiracy aimed at drug trafficking.
2. Operation Calatino
On February, 14, 2001 in Catania, a complex investigation enabled the implementation of a warrant of arrest against 20 figures, who were considered the associates of a mafia-type crime group settled in the Caltagirone area and operating in the field of extortion to the detriment of companies and public tenders; an entrepreneur was arrested too..3. Operation Cobra On March 1, 2001, in Rome, during the monitoring over Sicilian figures belonging to the RINZIVILLO family, a mafia clan native to Gela, who moved to Rome, RINZIVILLO Salvatore was arrested; he had been previously at large, pursuant to the issue of a warrant of arrest by the Court of Assizes in Milan, since deemed responsible for a murder occurred in Milan by the end of the ‘80s.
In such a framework, we managed to dismantle a crime group operating in Rome and suburbs, aiming at gaining illicit proceeds deriving from the exploitation of non-EEC nationals with no permit of stay and from money laundering.
4. Operation Alba Due On June 12, 2001, in Caltanissetta, a warrant of arrest was issued against four mafia leaders (RIINA Salvatore, VIRGA Vincenzo, DI MAGGIO Baldassarre and MADONIA Antonino), all confined and considered responsible for the slaughter in Pizzolungo in which, on April 1985, three people were killed in a bomb attack against the judge Carlo Palermo.
The investigation which brought about the operation Alba, did not end with any result.
B. CAMORRA
1. Operation Ametista
On June 26, 2001, in Salerno, in the framework of an operation started in April 1998, with the aim of counteracting some crime groups operating in Nocera Inferiore and.Pagani, a warrant of arrest was carried out against 31 figures, out of which 13 already in jail, deemed responsible for a mafia-type criminal conspiracy, extortion and other crimes. In particular, with regard to the Pagani area, from the investigations carried out into the clan headed by the confined CONTALDO and VENTRI, operating in the field of extortion and drug trafficking, they surfaced as particularly criminally involved.
2. Operation Cielo Azzurro
In the evening of May 16, 2001, in Marano (Naples), the notorious fugitive Angelo NUVOLETTA, was arrested; he was the undisputed leader of the same clan and the most significant referral of the mafia-cupola in Campania. He was included among the 30 most dangerous and wanted fugitives at international level.
During the operation, two additional figures were arrested because of aiding and abetting and also because believed of being the fugitive’s supporters.
Angelo NUVOLETTA’s arrest was effected after a two-year investigation, which resorted to traditional police techniques and technological resources.
Thanks to the importance of NUVOLETTA, from a criminal viewpoint, the operation in question represents a strategic momentum to the fight against camorra.
3. Operation Grillo
In January 2001, in Salerno, a warrant of arrest was issued against n. 4 people, 3 of
which were already in jail, and a house arrest against an offender, believed
responsible for a camorra-type criminal conspiracy, robbery, fencing, kidnapping and.other offences to the detriment of truck drivers. The operation allowed to highlight various criminal incidents perpetrated by the camorra clan ALFIERI-GALASSO.
4. Operation Project
In January 2001, in Rome, LOMBARDI Ernesto was arrested, he was at large since November 1998, when the Law Court in Naples issued a warrant of arrest in the context of the Operation Project; pursuant to such an operation, 80 warrants of arrest were issued and assets were seized for a total value of 3800 million liras approx.
The Operation was started in November of 1997 to fight against a vast crime group operating in the counterfeiting and negotiation of bank-books and US bank guarantees, to reinvest the illicit proceeds thus obtained in drug trafficking and currency counterfeiting.
C. ‘NDRANGHETA
1. Operation Istrice
In the semester under review, in Tuscany, 9 people were arrested because of criminal conspiracy, drug and arms trafficking, and 3 kgs. of cocaine were seized.
The Operation was started in November 2000, and concerned a crime group operating in Versilia, headed by a Calabrian criminal who settled in Viareggio (Lucca), Giovanni GULLA’, operating in drug trafficking coming from Spain and South.America, who was arrested together with some associates of the “banda della Magliana”.
2. Operation Larice 2
On June 30, 2001, in Reggio Calabria, a warrant of arrest was carried out against 5 associates of the mafia clan “LABATE”. The operation is the follow up of a previous inquiry wrapped up in 1998 concerning the aforementioned crime group, which brought about the arrest of 47 people.
D. APULIAN ORGANIZED CRIME
1. Operation Crna Gora
In January 2001, the investigations carried out enabled the arrest of 49 people who belonged to a camorra-mafia crime group, headed by the notorious CUOMO Gerardo and PRUDENTINO Francesco, operating in the international smuggling of foreign cigarettes and in the laundering of illicit proceeds; the Public Prosecutor at the Law Court in Bari issued a warrant of arrest against ROSSINI Enrico, a key figure operating in the laundering in Switzerland of cigarette-related proceeds; the latter was confined in the prison of Hanau in Germany, where the arrest warrant was served.
In May, in Bari, a forfeiture order was issued against CUOMO Gerardo and some relatives of his, with reference to the same investigation, and concerning real estate and personal property for an estimated value equivalent to 15 billion liras approx.
2. Operation Orso.In February 2001, in Bari, 17 people were arrested in the framework of the operation “CRNA GORA”; this operation was aiming at the upper echelons of cigarette smuggling, that is the tier connected with the multinationals and enjoying of institutional cover.
E. FOREIGN ORGANIZED CRIME
1. Operation Danubio blu 2
In March 2001, in Puglia, Campania, Lazio and Emilia Romagna, 21 people (Italians and aliens) were arrested upon arrest warrant issued by the Law Court in Bari, charged with serious crimes, among which the use of arms by the criminal conspiracy aimed at heroin trafficking; in the circumstance, a preventive seizure of personal property and real estate for a billion liras approx. was effected.
The operation, started in 1998, and concerned a complex investigation into crimes perpetrated in Italy by the Albanian organized crime, in close connection with the crime groups operating in Albania.
2. Operation Picco 2
In January 2001, in Florence, n. 4 Albanians were caught red-handed , since believed responsible for an international cocaine trafficking. Later, in April and May, in the framework of the same investigation, an Albanian courier and an Italian national were arrested, since employed to introduce drugs in Rome. During the operation a total 7.5 kgs of cocaine were seized, mostly purchased in the Netherlands.
3. Operation Random.In June, in Turin, 3 Albanians were caught red-handed for drug trafficking. The inquiry allowed to arrest 5 figures, both Italians and Albanians, believed responsible for international drug trafficking destined to the British market. During the police activities, a total 331 kgs of marijuana were seized, together with arms and stolen vehicles.
4. Operation Seta
In March 2001, in Genoa, 3 Albanians were arrested and 5 Albanians were detained, all believed of being responsible for a criminal conspiracy aimed at drug trafficking.
In May, the Public Prosecutor in Genoa ordered the arrest of additional 2 Albanians, believed of being responsible for international cocaine trafficking, mainly coming from the Netherlands.
5. Operation Staffetta
The Operation concerning a vast Albanian crime group, connected with the clan SHABANI, operating in Italy, was started in March 2001 and brought about the following results:
?? In the month of March 2001, an Italian courier was caught red-handed since found in possession of 18 kgs approx. of heroin; ?? In the month of April, a motor-vessel flying Albanian flag was detected; the ship had been used to carry drugs; 6 crew members were arrested and 23 kgs of heroin were seized;
?? In the month of May, another Albanian trafficker was caught red-handed, since found in possession of 21 kgs of heroin;.?? In the same month of May, another vessel flying Albanian flag was detected; this ship as well was managed by the same organization and used to carry drugs from Albania. In this circumstance, 7 crew members were arrested and 32 kgs of heroin were seized, which had been concealed in the motor-vessel;
?? In the same month of May, another Albanian courier was caught red-handed in Barletta (Bari) since found in possession of 2 kgs of heroin;
?? In the month of June, in Bari, 2 subjects were arrested (a Greek and an Italian) since caught red-handed and because in possession of 11 kgs of heroin and 160 kgs of cocaine. On the same occasion, two additional Albanian nationals were detained; they were seriously suspected of international drug trafficking since they were the recipients of the aforementioned drug consignments, which had just arrived on board of a liner.
6. Operation Testimone
The operation started in Bari and aimed at dismantling an Albanian crime group connected with the LAGJI family, operating in Italy and in international drug trafficking, human beings and prostitution. Such an operation went through the following investigations:
?? In February 2001, in Milan, 2 Albanians were arrested, both belonging to the aforementioned crime group for arms offences;
?? In February, in Barletta, 8 Albanians were detained, since seriously suspected of trafficking in drugs and human beings, and the seizure of a motor-vessel, cars and cash money..?? On the same occasion, pursuant to the arrest of the above mentioned people, the< Public Prosecutor from the Law Court in Bari issued an arrest warrant against 10 Albanians for criminal conspiracy in the trafficking in human beings, criminal conspiracy aimed at drug trafficking and arms-related offences.
7. Operation Tosca
In Febrary 2001, within an operation aimed at counteracting illicit activities carried out by Albanian crime groups, operating in Toscana and Veneto, in thefts, robberies, fencing, exploitation of the prostitution, arms trafficking with outgrowths in Slovenia, Croatia, the Public Prosecutor of the Law Court in Florence issued an arrest warrant against 19 Albanians. On the occasion, 10 Albanians were detained, since non-compliant with the residence regulations and seriously suspected of fencing.
8. Operation Ramo d’Oriente In March 2001, in Florence, a Chinese national was arrested since deemed responsible for mafia-type criminal conspiracy and extortion.
The investigation falls within the Operation “Ramo d’Oriente” aimed at fighting against a Chinese crime group, operating in Florence with outgrowths in Rome and Milan, mainly dealing with the exploitation of prostitution, offences against property and “flash” seizures to the detriment of their fellow nationals.
From the investigation in question, some connections between the crime group concerned and a Slav national surfaced; the latter was a significant contact, able to supervise the trafficking in illegal aliens coming from Eastern Europe..9. Operation Vlada
In the month of May 2001, in Turin, ZHUKOV Alexander, was arrested together with other three subjects, pursuant to an arrest warrant. The operation aimed at dismantling a Russian crime group operating in an international trafficking in war weapons.
Such a trafficking, together with other illicit activities (for example: the reinvestment of capital) was accomplished through some companies, located in several countries, and connected with a financial group managed by an oil company, headed by ZHUKOV.
F. MONEY LAUNDERING
1. Operation Malocchio
In the period under review, the aforementioned operation started after an information exchange with the US FBI, and which was aimed at dismantling a complex crime group involved in the trafficking of significant consignments of cocaine coming from South America, as well as in money laundering and in the re-investment of huge capital, through international financial channels; the capital in question was then forfeited by the Law Court in Rome, for a total amount equivalent to 20 billion liras:
N. 14 real estate
N. 1 motorvessel
N. 35 different vehicles
N. 4 companies
N. 17 bank accounts..2. Operation Paladino
In March 2001, in Palermo, 7 subjects were arrested by the local Public Prosecutor; these figures were responsible for a criminal conspiracy aimed at perpetrating several offences among which money laundering and the illegal transfer of funds.
The investigation in question started in June 1999 on the basis of a suspicious transactions report (Law 197/91 - Art. 3) regarding a retired person with criminal records for criminal conspiracy, fencing and weapons, in connection with high amounts of money being deposited in his own bank account and which were disproportionate with regard to his own income.
The investigation extended to his relatives and, besides detecting significant
connections with organized crime, allowed the finding of an important real estate, already under seizure in the second semester of last year, for a total value of 10 billion liras approximately.