Catania, major operation against the Scalisi clan: 14 arrests for mafia, drug, and extortion.

The State Police executed a precautionary custody order against 14 people, accused in various capacities of mafia association, drug trafficking, extortion, illegal possession of weapons, receiving stolen goods and unauthorized access to communication devices by prisoners, all crimes aggravated by the facilitation of the Scalisi clan, active in the Adranita territory.

The operation, coordinated by Central Operative Service and District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Catania, has seen more than 100 people involved 150 operators with the collaboration of the Mobile Squads of numerous Italian cities, canine units and helicopters.

Previous

The measures follow the arrests carried out on September 16th against 10 individuals from the same organization, later validated with pre-trial detention in prison. The conduct contested by the suspects covers the period October 2023 – September 2025 and include extortion of entrepreneurs, traders and street vendors, as well as intimidation through vehicle burningDuring the investigations they were seized over a kilo of cocaine and marijuana e three pistols with ammunition attributable to the association.

The murder plan

From the wiretaps it emerged that the current regent of the Scalisi clan had planned multiple murders to avenge the death of his 17-year-old son, stabbed to death in Francofonte on April 20, 2025 during a brawl. Despite the arrest of the alleged perpetrator, the boss was found determined to take revenge, organizing the ambush in the final days of September in Francofonte. The plan called for the use of:

• fake police uniforms, packaged in Chieti by family members and accomplices;

• un van without satellite locator for the Abruzzo-Sicily journey;

• the collaboration of several family members, including the boss's uncle and brother, who were involved in procuring weapons.

The alibi would have been provided by the boss's participation in the uncle's wedding in Chieti on September 20th, before going to Sicily to carry out the crime.

The searches

The searches led to the discovery of:

• 550 grams of cocaine divided into doses in the home of the clan regent;

• un revolver without serial number in an accomplice's house;

• two uniforms similar to those of the Carabinieri in the uncle's garage in Chieti, intended for the ambush.

Communications from prison

The investigations also confirmed that some inmates of the clan communicated illegally from prison using cell phones to maintain contact with the outside world and plan criminal activities.