Italian Authorities Deliver Major Blow to Sicilian Mafia in Palermo Raids In a sweeping crackdown on organized crime, Italian authorities arrested nearly 150 individuals in Palermo, dealing a significant blow to the notorious Sicilian mafia, Cosa Nostra. The large-scale operation, carried out in the early hours of the morning, involved over 1,200 officers executing warrants … [Read more…]
Matteo Messina Denaro arrested in Palermo after 30 years on the run Matteo Messina Denaro is one of Italy’s most wanted criminals and is considered the last “godfather” of the Sicilian mafia. He was arrested in Palermo, Sicily on Monday after 30 years on the run. Denaro is alleged to be a boss of the … [Read more…]
British tourist mistaken for elusive mafia boss Matteo Messina Denaro An unsuspecting British tourist who was mistaken for highly elusive Cosa Nostra boss, Matteo Messina Denaro, 59, was arrested at a restaurant in the Hague last Wednesday. He was said to be having lunch with his son and a friend when numerous police special force … [Read more…]
Italy arrests 16 Sicilian Greco clan mafia members An operation by Palermo’s District Antimafia Directorate (DDA), in collaboration with the police and Carabinieri, has brought the arrest of 16 men, for crimes of mafia association and extortion. The investigation has also revealed much about the inner workings of the Greco, Roccella and Brancaccio clans of … [Read more…]
Cosa Nostra clan connected to New York mafia dismantled by Italian police Italian police have dismantled a Cosa Nostra clan linked to the New York mafia. On July 14th, Italian officials hit the Torretta clan with the arrest of eleven alleged members accused of infiltrating the Sicilian political and economic system in addition to their … [Read more…]
Release of Italian mafia hitman Giovanni Brusca sparks outrage in Italy The release from prison of one of Italy’s most notorious mobsters-turned-informants generated more outrage Thursday, even after he was shown in an old jailhouse interview apologizing to his many victims for his role in “this factory of death.” Giovanni Brusca, 64, got out of prison … [Read more…]
Sicilian judge killed by mafia is one step closer to sainthood Almost three decades after being declared a martyr by Pope John Paul II, an Italian judge murdered by the mafia in Sicily took a step closer to sainthood on Sunday. The beatification of Rosario Livatino will take place in the cathedral in Agrigento, the … [Read more…]
Sicilian ‘Cosa Nostra’ mobsters arrested for COVID exploitation Italian officials arrested 16 suspected Cosa Nostra members on Tuesday for using the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute welfare to poor families. They were also allegedly using violence to solidify their local jurisdiction. “It wasn’t a good sort of welfare,” said Arturo Guarino, head of Carabinieri police in … [Read more…]
Italian officials detain mafioso for role in child’s murder On Friday, the Sicilian police arrested a mafioso for his involvement in the notorious kidnapping and a murder of young boy in 1996. Giuseppe Costa is accused of committing numerous mafia-related crimes after his release in 2007, and after a decade in jail for his role … [Read more…]
Messina mafia bust leads to 33 arrests On Wednesday, 33 members of the Cosa Nostra family clan in Messina were arrested by Italian police. These arrests were a significant blow to the Galli Family, who were allegedly trafficking drugs across the Sicilian city. Most notably, the Galli’s were organizing illegal betting on night-time horse racing … [Read more…]
Matteo Messina Denaro sentenced to life imprisonment in absentia trial Sicily’s most wanted man, Matteo Messina Denaro, has been sentenced to life in an absentia trial Tuesday evening. Denaro has been convicted on the counts of murdering two anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, among others, while serving as alleged leader of the Sicilian … [Read more…]
[VIDEO] Mafia extortionist arrested after secret film emerges A mafia extortionist finds himself arrested after a video emerges of him trying to collect pizzo, protection money, from local businessman, Giuseppe Piraino. Piraino seemingly resisted the mafioso by showing him a picture of Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone, two former anti-mafia judges killed by cosa nostra back … [Read more…]
Giuseppe Fanara, 60, a former member of the Sicilian Cosa Nostra has bitten off and swallowed a prison guard’s finger. Fanara, who is serving a life sentence at Italy’s Rebibbia prison in Rome, was supposedly so upset that his prison cell was being inspected, bit off and swallowed the guard’s pinky finger. Fanara, whose new … [Read more…]
Leonardo Badalamenti, 60, son of top 1970s Sicilian mafia boss, Gaetano Badalamenti, was arrested on Wednesday in Sicily. The Italian police said they were acting on a Brazilian international arrest warrant. Badalamenti is wanted by the Brazilian government for bank fraud and drug trafficking, crimes he committed in the country using an alias. He has … [Read more…]
A picture-perfect Italian town in the foothills of Sicily’s picturesque countryside, Corleone has a ruthless past. Corleone consists of bell towers, ornate churches, and a breathtaking view of the valley below. A maze of narrow cobblestone streets leads to small family-run cafes and bakeries. Some of Cosa Nostra’s most notorious bosses were born in this … [Read more…]