The State Police of Syracuse, together with the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri and the Economic-Financial Police Unit of the Guardia di Finanza of Syracuse, delegated by the District Attorney of the Republic - District Anti-Mafia Directorate, has carried out an application order of precautionary measure in prison issued by the GIP at the Court of Catania, against 11 subjects belonging to the mafia-type association called "Clan Trigila", operating in the territories of the south-eastern area of the province of Syracuse between Noto, Avola, Pachino and Rosolini and of a further 2 subjects held responsible for the crimes of aggravated extortion carried out with the mafia method.
The investigations revealed that the clan, making use of the intimidating force deriving from the associative bond to directly or indirectly acquire the control and management of economic activities, has ensured a dominant position in the sectors of road transport of fruit and vegetable products, the production of platforms and packaging and the production and trade of dairy products, influencing and altering the rules of competition.
The investigation, launched in the final months of 2016 and conducted until the summer season of 2018, made it possible to ascertain how, despite the long detention of the founder TRIGILA Antonio Giuseppe, and other top figures such as the son of the boss , the TRIGILA clan had continued to operate thanks to the fundamental contribution of the closest family members of the head or his wife and daughter, as well as through the work of some men of absolute trust in charge of conducting the most profitable illegal activities.
Although detained, TRIGILA Antonio Giuseppe, together with his son with whom he was in constant correspondence, continued to impart the instructions aimed at the direction of the association during the interviews with his family members, also affiliated, directing activities instrumentally aimed at achieving the control of the economic activities of the territory. Furthermore, the associates had continued to commit crimes and other conducts aimed at ensuring the association, through the force of intimidation, control of the territory.
With regard to the illegal activities documented during the investigation, the policemen ascertained how the Trigila clan acted by resorting to a modus operandi consolidated over time, which saw in the penetration of the economic fabric of the territory, with companies capable of altering the rules of competition and acquire a dominant position thanks to the name of the TRIGILA, the land of choice thanks to which to achieve illicit profits.
This occurred, for example, in the intermediation imposed in the transport sector of agricultural products, in the extortion of economic operators and in the acquisition of agricultural funds aimed at requests for European contributions. Alongside these, of course, there were also traditionally illegal activities such as drug trafficking.
Among the subjects in top positions, the figure of CRISPINO Giuseppe stood out, a real "regent at liberty" of the association, who, up to the date of his arrest on 4.07.2018, had been entrusted with the collection of the necessary illicit proceeds to support the association, the payment of salaries to the families of prisoners, the possession of weapons and the conduct of the most delicate criminal activities such as extortion and drug trafficking. Trustworthy men were then placed in the sectors considered crucial for the maintenance and development of the clan.
One of the subjects, called "u caliddu", was the subject who, thanks to contacts with the trucking companies operating in the southern area of the province and in the neighboring Ragusa area, had the task of collecting the payments of money imposed on operators in the sector to be able to work without running into problems.
On this point, the investigations have ascertained the consummation of three episodes of extortion against operators in the freight transport sector for third parties.
In particular, the subject, by threatening and making use of the force emanating from the associative bond, prevented the transporters from working freely in what he himself called "his" territory or forced hauliers and companies to make use of his brokerage activity or to pay him sums of money ("But who gave you this authorization" - "I'm taking the bins and setting them on fire right now, right away. And nobody must enter here unless I tell you first, because the owner (... ) it's me").
The nephew of TRIGILA Antonio, recently included in the mafia organization chart, was entrusted with the affairs relating to the acquisition and control of agricultural funds in the large area of competence of the TRIGILA clan.
Furthermore, the figures of the wife and daughter of the subject believed to be the head of the organization are quite peculiar, respectively, profound connoisseurs of the internal dynamics of the clan and of the methodologies useful for diverting any investigations by the police forces, as emerged from the constant use of the conventional language used with TRIGILA Antonio during the interviews.
During the investigation, the women carried out the delicate task of conveying the orders of the relative useful for the organization and management of the activities, not disdaining to intervene in the first person when it was necessary to use the evocative value emanating from the marriage relationship.
Around the top figures, there was also a large number of supporters and facilitators who often limited themselves to providing a contribution aimed at conveying information and making appointments between associates. Although not directly incisive in the delinquent dynamics of producing illicit profits, it was a contribution made with full awareness, which allowed the men of the clan not to expose themselves and to evade the constant attention to which they were subjected by virtue of the bond of affiliation.
Finally, at the base of the group, there were some subjects with purely executive duties, who made their work available to perpetrate illicit activities useful for the management of the clan, such as intimidating, violent actions and extortion requests.
The arrest of Giuseppe CRISPINO, which took place on 4.07.2018 because he was found in possession of about 650 grams of cocaine and 4 perfectly functioning guns illegally held, was the clear proof of how the association was widely operational, spanning several fronts, and held an arsenal to draw upon in case of need.
Despite the long imprisonment suffered, the Trigila clan and its many illicit activities were still led by TRIGILA Antonio Giuseppe. Extremely significant was the explanation that the same Mafia exponent gave to his niece, of his criminal activity: "They say for Mafiosità, instead I am a contrast of the State! ... what does contrast of the State mean?"
The execution of the precautionary measures against 3 of those arrested today, were carried out by the policemen of the Syracuse Flying Squad with the help of the Flying Squads of L'Aquila, Terni and Ancona.
The Operational Department of the Provincial Command of Syracuse was delegated to carry out the precautionary measure against one of the subjects, as the results of another recent investigation carried out by the Syracuse Carabinieri Investigative Unit, focused on control for extortion purposes, merged into the investigation road transport, which made it possible to acquire specific and decisive elements against the suspect.
The Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Syracuse carried out the preventive seizure of the sum of € 18.171, identified as the profit of the crime of aggravated fraud aimed at obtaining public funds.
The operations were attended by about 60 policemen from the Syracuse Police Headquarters, the Crime Prevention Department and the Dog Lovers of the State Police, as well as soldiers from the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza.