Carmine Verduci was shot in the head in Woodbridge outside of a cafe often frequented by members of the Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia in a violent daytime mob hit. Many mob and law enforcement sources believe the murder to be a significant move by the Montreal Mafia and a symbolic maneuver signaling the bloody Montreal Mafia War is not over. It is believed the hit is a sign that the vandetta of Vito Rizzuto against his enemies which attempted a coup to take over the Montreal mafia and murdered members of his family including his son and father did not end with his death last December. Mafia insiders believe the Verduci hit is another signal of the Sicilian Mafia faction from Montreal striking back at the Calabrian Mafia faction from Ontario which is believed to have backed the attempted take over of the Sicilian Rizzuto Crime Family.
“Carmine Verduci murder scene”
Woodbridge is a city in which Ndrangheta members feels safe as its considered to be their home territory and power base so a hit with in the city such as this could mean on one is safe according to police sources. Mob sources claim Verduci wasn’t a Ndrangheta leader but he was a very significant player with in the Calabrian Mafia and led his own crew. Verduci was believed to be a central link and messenger between Ndrangheta clans in Canada and Italy with high level contacts. He was a central figure who was known to be able to get things done which made him a high profile target for the Montreal mafia attack.
Police sources say a hit such as this right in the heart of the Ontario mob’s strong hold in Canada is like putting it in their faces that accounts are not yet settled. Last July Calabrian mafia assassin Salvatore “Sam” Calautti was found murdered in Woodbridge and police sources believe that hit was also the Montreal mob venturing into the Ontario heart land. With the murder of Verduci being a much more high level target police believe the mafia hits may continue with a pattern of the next targets being of even higher status.
When the war started in Montreal against the Rizzuto family it began with attacks on lower level members slowly moving to the hierarchy of the family. It seems now the same thing may be happening in Ontario according to police sources. Many people in and around the mob including law enforcement wondered what would happen after Vito Rizzuto’s death and the Verduci hit seems to be a clear message that the war is not over yet. A police source said that there are now going to be a lot of nervous people.
