In the latest operation led by the Palermo District Anti-Mafia Directorate, Italian authorities have arrested 181 individuals associated with Cosa Nostra, the notorious Sicilian mafia, for illegal gambling and other crimes.

Among those apprehended is Angelo Barone, an entrepreneur local media outlets identified as a principal figure in unauthorised online betting operations and believed to have close ties to the Carini mafia family.

The Carini Mafia family is a faction of Cosa Nostra, operating in and around the town of Carini, located near Palermo in Sicily.

The investigation, under the coordination of Deputy Prosecutor Marzia Sabella, revealed that Cosa Nostra has evolved its extortion methods.

Historically reliant on overt physical intimidation, the mafia now employs more nuanced tactics, such as instalment-based extortion payments, colloquially termed “pizzo a rate,” or disguising extortion demands as legitimate service invoices.

The latter method was notably utilised by Alfonso Di Cara, alleged to be the extortion collector for the Porta Nuova clan. Such strategies aim to minimise resistance from victims and reduce the likelihood of attracting law enforcement attention.

However, there are instances where business owners themselves solicit mafia intervention to settle disputes. For example, a beach proprietor in Barcarello reportedly sought assistance from mafia members to resolve a conflict with a competitor.

Drug trafficking still big business

Drug trafficking remains a substantial revenue stream for Cosa Nostra. Leaders across various regions have reportedly reestablished connections with major national distributors, asserting dominance over local drug distribution networks.

Dealers who decline to sell mafia-supplied narcotics are compelled to remit a portion of their earnings or provide a fixed monthly fee.

Investigators note that while some veteran mafia members distance themselves from drug-related activities, narcotics trafficking continues to ensure a steady influx of funds for the organisation.

The sector of illegal online gambling has witnessed rapid expansion, with Angelo Barone emerging as a key player.

He is accused of developing a network of unregistered “.com” websites, thereby evading tax obligations and channeling a portion of the illicit profits to mafia clans.

Italian police said intercepted communications have unveiled transactions amounting to millions of euros and meetings between Barone and Giuseppe Lo Duca, the alleged boss of Carini, to strategise operations.

Authorities have charged Barone with mafia association for overseeing the distribution chain of illegal gambling and securing consistent financial gains for the criminal organisation.

This investigation shows Cosa Nostra’s adaptability, highlighting its capacity to recruit new members, leverage technological advancements, and corrupt business figures.

Some entrepreneurs continue to perceive the mafia as an unavoidable entity for problem-solving, inadvertently bolstering the organisation’s influence.

The primary challenge remains dismantling the nexus between the legitimate economy and criminal enterprises.

Efforts to break up mafias continue

Over the last three decades, Italian law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts against organised crime, leading to numerous arrests of Cosa Nostra members.

While exact cumulative arrest figures over the decade are challenging to ascertain, these high-profile operations indicate a sustained and robust crackdown on Cosa Nostra activities.

To date, thousands of suspected Cosa Nostra-linked individuals have been arrested. However, the recent arrests show that the mob is still highly active.

Similarly, the ‘Ndrangheta, based in Calabria, has been a focal point of Italian law enforcement. In one operation in 2017, a blitz against the ‘Ndrangheta resulted in 48 arrests and the seizure of assets worth €25m in Reggio Calabria.

In 2018, authorities arrested Luigi Abbruzzese, a 28-year-old who had been orchestrating the ‘Ndrangheta’s cocaine, heroin, and cannabis trafficking operations from Italy to Northern Europe since the age of 25.

Furthermore, in 2023, a coordinated investigation by Belgium, Italy, and Germany led to the arrest of 132 ‘Ndrangheta members.

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