Execution of precautionary measures against 51 investigated
From the early hours of today 8 November, in numerous Italian provinces and in Spain, a vast operation of the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Milan is underway, collaborated in the executive phase by those of the Provincial Command of Naples and the other provincial Commands with territorial jurisdiction, which are executing two precautionary measures issued by the GIP of the Court of Naples to conclude complex investigations directed by the Neapolitan District Anti-Mafia Directorate.
During the operation, 51 people were subjected to precautionary measures [1], a jewelry shop was seized (estimated value 5 million) and 65 delegated searches were carried out.
The investigation involved 82 investigators [2] in their entirety, held in various capacities responsible for the crime of criminal association ex 416 cp, aimed at the commission of more crimes of crime aggravated against elderly people, with the aggravating circumstance for 14 of them art. 416 bis 1 cp, or rather of the purpose of favoring the "Contini" Camorra clan [3], articulation of the powerful Secondigliano Alliance operating in the Neapolitan neighborhoods Vasto, Arenaccia, San Giovannello and Borgo Sant'Antonio Abate, and with the aggravating circumstance for 17 of them of the transnationality [4].
The activity stems from an investigative commitment, initiated in February by the Carabinieri of the Milan Investigation Unit, against a vertical increase in crimes, in particular frauds against the elderly, for which the criminals often resorted to the figure of the Carabiniere.
The objective of the investigation shared with the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Naples was to understand the fund's organization, operating mechanisms and referents of a complex criminal association.
An investigation was initiated by the Neapolitan District Attorney's Office concerning the scams in which the victims are circulated by telephone by the suspects who, pretending to be insurers, lawyers or carabiniere (the telephone operator), communicate that a family member has caused a serious car accident and that, to allow the release from a Carabinieri barracks, it is necessary to deliver money or other valuables, later taken by an accomplice (the operator on the territory) at the victims' home.
The investigations allowed to photograph the criminal phenomenon, of which direction, roles, functions, bases, organizational and executive modalities and connections were revealed.
It has in fact been ascertained that these criminal activities are organized and / or are connected to the area of Naples corresponding to the districts Vasto, Arenaccia, San Giovannello and Borgo Sant'Antonio Abate, where a stable criminal association is active which uses a club as a meeting place of Piazza Santa Maria della Fede, what the same fellows call "il covo".
The organization involves a very large number of people and under its aegis operate more batteries, operating also from Spain, firmly connected to the "Contini" clan.
The interest for this criminal activity derives from the relevant earnings that it is able to guarantee, in the face of very low risks.
The investigations also made it possible to identify a jewelery store in Naples, subjected to a preventive seizure, in which many of the precious items removed, and to demonstrate the owner's close connection with the "Contini" clan.
The results of investigations by the Carabinieri of the Bergamo Investigation Unit and the Genoa Flying Squad, which dealt with specific cases of fraud, also contributed significantly to forming the circumstantial framework underlying the judicial order.
In the course of the investigations, hundreds of episodes of attempted or consumed fraud carried out throughout Italy have been reconstructed.
The investigations are still ongoing, therefore we invite the citizens who are victims of fraud to report them promptly to the Police.