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The Italian mafia is in the collar! A court in the city of Catanzaro in southern Italy decided on Thursday to open a mega trial for mid-January, Italian news agencies reported.
In a building specially set up in Lamezia Terme, Calabria, the proceedings against over 350 alleged members of the ‘Ndrangheta will begin on January 13, as the Adnkronos agency writes. For about 90 other defendants who had opted for an express trial, the trial is expected to begin at the end of January. The defendants are accused of belonging to the mafia, murder, illegal possession of weapons and drug trafficking.
Frauenfeld cell destroyed thanks to Gratteri
The ‘Ndrangheta is currently considered the most brutal and powerful mafia organization in Italy. It has its headquarters in the southern Italian region of Calabria. The investigation has been ongoing since at least 2019. It is led by the well-known mafia hunter, the chief prosecutor of Catanzaro, Nicola Gratteri.
Gratteri is known for putting mobsters behind bars. A few years ago, thanks to him, the Frauenfeld cell of the Mancuso clan, an offshoot of the ‘Ndrangheta, was destroyed. Arrests followed in Calabria and Switzerland. In 2019, the godfather of the Thurgau mafia and his deputy Raffaele A. * (74) were sentenced in the second instance to twelve and eight years. Another nine people received prison terms of up to 13 years.
Threatened with murder
In December 2019, the clan was captured again. With a coordinated action called “Rinascita-Scott”, the police hit in Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Bulgaria. The leaders of the group were arrested as well as their aides.
The Mancuso clan used bank accounts in Switzerland to deposit illegally acquired money. The former politician Giancarlo Pittelli played an important role in this.
In the summer, the famous mafia hunter received death threats as a result, reports the “Tages-Anzeiger”. The Mancuso clan had “hired a trusted man to carry out the murder plan,” reads a letter. Investigations have begun and Gratteri’s personal protection has been strengthened. (SDA / man)
“Blackmail, cocaine, heroin”: Switzerland hands over nine mafiosi to Italy(00:59)
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