Author: About The Mafia

16 January, 2023

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 notorious Cosa Nostra (Sicilian) Mafia, and he was tried and sentenced to life in jail in absentia in 2002 over numerous murders.

Denaro is known for his involvement in multiple homicides, including the car bombings that killed Italy’s most prominent anti-Mafia prosecutors, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, and the abduction, torture and killing of the 11-year-old son of a mafioso-turned-state witness. He was also responsible for the deadly 1993 bomb attacks in Milan, Florence and Rome. Nicknamed “Diabolik” and “‘U Siccu” (The Skinny One), Denaro had been sentenced in absentia to a life term for his role in the 1992 killings, and his capture was a great victory for the state.

Denaro is thought to be Cosa Nostra’s last “secret-keeper”, and he was reported to be overseeing racketeering, illegal waste dumping, money-laundering and drug-trafficking for the powerful organized crime syndicate. He was reportedly the protege of Totò Riina, head of the Corleone clan, who was arrested in 1993 after 23 years on the run.

Despite his long-term status as a fugitive, Denaro had been issuing orders to his subordinates from various secret locations, leading to the arrest of his sister Patrizia and several other of his associates in 2013. Denaro was reportedly detained in a private clinic in Sicily’s capital, Palermo, where he was receiving treatment for cancer. He is now in police custody, and his arrest is a sign of hope that the Mafia can be eradicated from the southern regions of the country.

This article was originally posted “here“

28 December, 2022

How did Charles “Lucky” Luciano help the US in WW2?

Charles “Lucky” Luciano was an Italian-American gangster who rose to power in the Prohibition era as the leader of the Genovese crime family in New York City. He was born in Sicily in 1897 and immigrated to the United States as a child.

Luciano began his criminal career as a member of the Five Points Gang in New York City and quickly rose through the ranks of organized crime. He was known for his intelligence, strategic thinking, and ability to create alliances and partnerships with other criminal organizations.

During the Prohibition era, Luciano became involved in the production and distribution of illegal alcohol, as well as other illegal activities such as prostitution and gambling. He was also involved in the narcotics trade and was known for his ruthless tactics and his willingness to use violence to achieve his goals.

In 1936, Luciano was convicted of running a prostitution ring and was sentenced to 30 to 50 years in prison. However, he was released from prison in 1946 after being offered a deal by the U.S. government to reduce his sentence in exchange for his assistance in the war effort.

It is not clear to what extent Charles “Lucky” Luciano actually assisted the U.S. government during World War II or how much information he provided about the Sicilian mafia. Some historians have argued that the U.S. government’s decision to use Luciano as an informant was motivated more by a desire to eliminate a rival criminal organization than by a genuine desire to seek his assistance in the war effort. Others have suggested that Luciano may have used the opportunity to further his own interests and leverage his connections to the Sicilian mafia for personal gain.

Regardless of the true extent of his involvement, it is clear that Luciano’s release from prison and his deportation to Italy were controversial decisions. Many people opposed the idea of using a convicted criminal, who had a long history of engaging in illegal activities, as an informant for the U.S. government. Some argued that it sent the wrong message about the government’s willingness to tolerate and even reward criminal behavior, while others believed that it was wrong to release a convicted criminal from prison early, regardless of the circumstances.

It is worth noting that, while Luciano may have played a role in the Allied invasion of Sicily, he was not directly involved in the war effort and did not participate in military operations.

As part of the deal, Luciano was deported to Italy and spent the remainder of his life in Europe. He died in Naples in 1962 at the age of 64.

This article was originally posted “here“

28 November, 2022

49 alleged ‘Ndrangheta mafia members, including potential woman boss, arrested in Italy

Forty-nine suspected members of the ‘Ndrangheta, the mafia in the far south of the country, on the outskirts of Milan, have been arrested by Italian police. One of the arrested suspects appears to be an unknown woman who ran a local clan of the family.

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Charges range from extortion, drug trafficking, violence and arson, and more. Some of them are said to have intimidated people with the severed heads of goats and pigs, with some victims finding the dismembered animals on their doorsteps of their residences.

The alleged woman boss is said to be the leader of the ‘Ndrangheta of Rho. The Milan prosecutor told local media that her methods of extortion and intimidation were more ruthless than those of her male counterparts.

Within the Rho (northwest of Milan) operation, drugs, weapons and ammunition were also taken. The clan’s revenue was reportedly used to purchase businesses, homes and livelihoods for members’ families.

According to a spokesman for the Italian officials, the ‘Ndrangheta has expanded increasingly into the country’s industrial north.

Thirty-seven people were also recently arrested in Naples. The city council of the town of Anzio, south of Rome, was dissolved on Thursday after mafia infiltration was discovered, a Reuters news agency reported.

This article was originally posted “here“