Catania, the State Police executes a custodial order in prison against 7 individuals investigated for extortion aggravated by mafia methods

In the early hours of the morning, the State Police, by order of the Catania District Anti-Mafia Prosecutor's Office, executed the order for the execution of a precautionary measure. With the executed order, the precautionary measure of custody in prison was applied to four suspects and the precautionary measure of house arrest to three suspects, one of the latter already detained for another cause..

The precautionary measures were issued following a complex and detailed investigation conducted by investigators from the Ragusa Police Headquarters and the Comiso Police Station. The modus operandi of the dangerous criminal group was dedicated to the commission of extortion in competition, aggravated by the mafia method, in the province of Ragusa the criminal acts would have been committed between the month of February and the month of August 2023, when the suspects are said to have been responsible for a series of extortions to the detriment of traders and entrepreneurs operating in the construction sector, in the territories of Vittoria and Comiso.

In particular, in the case of two building contractors from Comiso, the extortion demand was preceded by unequivocal acts of intimidation that were allegedly carried out by the suspects by placing two gas cylinders with a fake trigger (a fuse) and with the name of the victim written on them near the homes and businesses of the injured partiesThese are methods that are clearly suitable for forcing victims to pay the so-called pizzo, with the threat of harm to their personal safety and the integrity of their business assets.

The investigation activity, supported by technical interception activities and traditional judicial police services, has allowed to bring to light the predominant role that would have been assumed by two of the arrested in the organization and management of the extortions, the execution of which to the detriment of the designated victims would have been delegated to the remaining investigated members of the criminal group, as well as the evidence of the "mafia method" that would derive from the methods of conduct and the contiguity with exponents of the mafia clan called "stidda".

The blitz, which began at dawn, involved the use of 60 State Police units, including personnel from the Catania Crime Prevention Unit and Catania dog units, as well as the support of a helicopter from the Palermo State Police flight unit.

The arrested were taken to the Ragusa Prison, at the disposal of the competent Judicial Authority.