The once powerful Corleone clan once sat atop the Sicilian mafia under former boss of bosses Bernardo Provenzano before being decimated by a wave of arrests.
The Italian mafia clan was on the brink of being wiped out according to authorities but its fortunes seem to be changing. Carmelo Gariffo, 47, a nephew of Provenzano has revived the beleaguered mafia family since his release from prison two years ago according to reports. A recent police operation into the collection of extortion payments known as “Pizzo” around the town of Palermo revealed Gariffo’s leadership role in the organization. Approximately a dozen Corleone family members were arrested.
“Carmelo Gariffo”
The revival of the crime family may be further bolstered when another of Provenzano’s nephews Salvatore Gariffo is released from prison in 2018. Authorities and anti-mafia experts have both stressed the importance of keeping the Corleone clan from rebuilding and restoring its power base. The Sicilian mafia has taken its share of bumps and bruises over the last few years and has lost its place as the top mafia family in Italy to the Calabrian mafia also known as Ndrangheta. The re-establishment of the Corleone clan would be a clear step to the restabilization of the Cosa Nostra family.
