Major anti-mafia operation in Palermo: 50 restrictive measures against Cosa Nostra and major drug trafficking networks.

La State Police, by delegation of District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Palermo, carried out a major anti-mafia and anti-drug operation which culminated in the application of 50 restrictive measures.

The defendants are held responsible, in various capacities, for Mafia, extortion, fictitious registration of goods, association for the purpose of drug trafficking e shop.

In detail, the GIP of Palermo has ordered 19 pre-trial detentions in prison e 6 house arrest, while for others 25 subjects it was performed arrest of a crime suspect.

The operation is the result of four complex investigative activities, conducted by: VII Section Anti-drugs of the Palermo Flying Squad, Section I Organized Crime of the Flying Squad, SISCO of Palermo, Public Safety Commissioner Brancaccio.

The two anti-drug investigations: record seizures and supply channels between Sicily and Campania

The Anti-Drug Section's activities have dismantled criminal networks that were smuggling large quantities of narcotics into Sicily.

Overall, the following were performed 25 precautionary measures, with seizures equal to approximately 2,5 quintals of hashish e 4kg of cocaine, and 12 arrests in flagrante delicto.

The first survey (October 2022 – August 2023)

The existence of has emerged two consorteries, connected by a dense network of relationships:

• a rooted in Palermo, united by kinship ties;

• a operating in Campania, main supplier of the first group.

Within the Campania group there were intermediaries in contact with a representative of a well-known Camorra clan, capable of dumping large quantities of drugs into the provinces of Palermo and Catania.

The second investigation

He identified a Palermo cell engaged in a vast trafficking of cocaine, hashish and marijuana between the capital, the province and the area of Mazara del Vallo.

The suspects appear to belong to high-level criminal contexts, with clear mafia connectionsThe presence of individuals already targeted by measures for mafia association confirms the Cosa Nostra families' oversight of the drug trafficking sector.

The Noce district: new leaders, old bosses, and widespread control of the territory.

One of the investigations included in the operation concerns the Noce mafia district, including families Walnut, Cruillas-Malaspina e Little altarThe activity, which began in May 2023, allowed us to outline the groups' organizational charts, roles, and operating methods.

The investigations highlighted:

• the rise of new figures emerged after the recent arrests;

• the return of historical bosses, including a senior mafia boss with broad decision-making authority;

• the identification of the current regent of the district, linked by family continuity to the previous management.

The reconstructed criminal picture shows a tight control of the territory, exercised through extortion acts: six are those contested against traders and entrepreneurs. The group's interest in the drug trafficking.

For these dynamics the DDA has issued 11 arrest warrants against individuals believed to be involved in various capacities.

Brancaccio: Drug dealing network dismantled and a drug trafficking ledger

The investigation conducted by the Police Station Brancaccio brought to light a thriving drug dealing network active in the working-class neighborhoods of the capital.

The investigations (June 2024 – January 2025) led to the seizure of 9,2 kg of hashish, 2,5 kg of marijuana, small quantities of cocaine and the arrest in flagrante delicto of 11 Guests. For this activity, certificates have been issued 14 stops.

The discovery of a decisive ledger, in which the earnings, supplies, fees and financial movements of the association were recorded, with a real cash fund intended for traffic management.

Investigators also dismantled: two physical drug dealing squares (Sperone and Bonagia); a virtual drug dealing square, developed through a Telegram channel considered safe.

To strengthen its criminal image, the channel used the icon of Tony Montana, the protagonist of Scarface played by Al Pacino.

The operation required a huge deployment of forces, in total 1,000 were employed around 350 operators.