Since the early hours of this morning, Carabinieri, Police and DIA are carrying out a detention order, issued by the Palermo district attorney, against 22 affiliated to the mafia families of Castelvetrano, Campobello di Mazara and Partanna, investigated by mafia association, extortion, damage, possession of weapons and fictitious heading of goods, crimes aggravated by the mafia. The operation is part of the overall investigative maneuver aimed at the capture of the fugitive Matteo Messina Denaro also through the progressive weakening of the reference criminal circuits and the depletion of the related economic resources.
The operation of the Police, Carabinieri and DIA., Coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Palermo, confirmed the enduring role of Matteo Messina Denaro of the mafia province of Trapani and that of regent of the mandate of Castelvetrano hired by a brother-in-law, as a consequence of arrest of other members of the family circuit. The investigations, in addition to ascertaining the widespread control of the territory exercised by us and the systematic use of intimidation to infiltrate the local economic fabric, have made it possible to identify the relational network functional to sorting the "pizzini" with which the fugitive gave the provisions to its members.
The details of the operation will be disclosed during a press conference to be held at 11.30 today at the offices of the district prosecutor of Palermo.