Catanzaro, Carabinieri maxi operation: 59 arrests for 'ndrangheta-type association, drug trafficking and more

In the morning, in the area surrounding Lamezia Terme and in other centres of the national territory, the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Catanzaro, with the coordination of the Public Prosecutor's Office - District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Catanzaro, they executed a precautionary measure issued by the GIP at the Court of Catanzaro, against 59 suspects (50 in prison, 9 under house arrest), on the basis of the presumed existence of serious evidence in relation to the crimes, in various ways hypothesized, against them, including, respectively, 'ndrangheta-type association, criminal association aimed at drug trafficking, also aggravated by mafia methods and purposes, as well as in relation to numerous other crimes, even those aggravated by mafia methods and purposes, such as extortion, illicit competition, “corruption”, “personal favouritism”, “false testimony”, “arson”, “receiving stolen goods”, “ideological forgery”, as well as in the matter of weapons and numerous crimes relating to the cultivation, possession and marketing of narcotic substances.

The provision, issued at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office - District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Catanzaro, arises from the extensive investigative activity coordinated by the DDA of Catanzaro and delegated to the Carabinieri of the Investigative Nucleus of the Lamezia Terme Group, which was developed through an important traditional investigative activity, consisting of technical activities, services on the territory, "on the field" findings, with the acquisition of multiple emergencies.
The investigative results, through the complex and detailed investigations, have allowed us to outline (in the preliminary investigation phase which requires subsequent procedural verification in cross-examination with the defence) the seriousness of the evidence regarding the existence and operation of a 'ndrangheta-style criminal organisation, operating in the territories of Maida and Cortale, particularly active in the drug trade and in the exploitation of the forestry sector, headed by members of the Cracolici family, part of the wider 'ndrangheta system geographically located between the province of Vibo Valentia and the territory of the Lamezia Terme district.

In particular, the investigative results have allowed us to acquire serious evidence regarding crimes committed with the typical methods of mafia association, also making use of the relationships with two members of the police force, recipients of the precautionary measure, with a widespread control of the territory, recognized not only by the local communities, but also by the other mafia groups in the surrounding areas, together with a particular activism in the profitable drug trafficking.

The seriousness of the evidence acquired at the precautionary level also concerned the parallel association, operating under the aegis and in the context of the same 'ndrangheta gang, dedicated to the production and trafficking of various types of narcotic substances, outlining its structure and lines of action.

In particular, following the monitoring, started in November 2021, of some drug dealing areas located between the “Peppino Impastato” park and via del Progresso in Lamezia Terme, thanks to the various capture activities, corroborated by important findings and seizures against the subjects involved as pushers or users, an increasingly intricate network of connections has gradually emerged, with the identification of the supply channels of the narcotic, attributable to the most complex criminal organization, managed by members of the Cracolici family, hegemonic in the territories of Maida and Cortale, capable of moving large quantities of narcotics such as marijuana and cocaine.

Specifically, the association, thanks to the criminal influences boasted and the relationships maintained with other individuals from the Reggio and Crotone areas, was able to guarantee the supply of narcotics to many dealers from the Lamezia Terme area, some of whom had already previously been the recipients of precautionary measures, in proceedings of the Catanzaro District Anti-Mafia Prosecutor's Office. (“WAREHOUSE”, February 2022, and cd “SVEVIA”, February 2023).
The association had managed to implement, also with the complicity of a member of the police force who was the recipient of the measure, a proven system of marijuana production, diversifying the plantations in several sites considered safe, located on land situated in Lamezia Terme, Maida and Mesoraca.

In total, 5 plantations were monitored and seized, for a total of 4.600 cannabis indica plants.
During the investigation, 16 suspects were arrested red-handed for possession of narcotics and 10 other individuals were reported at liberty, as well as seize approximately 150 kilograms of marijuana and several doses of cocaine.

The availability of firearms by several monitored individuals also emerged, with the seizure of 3 clandestine pistols and related ammunition.
In this context, in addition to the ability to guarantee the support of the legal costs of the members who were progressively arrested, the ability of the association to interfere in the conduct of a trial against one of the members was also found, through false testimonies with the sole purpose of misleading the panel of judges and obtaining acquittals.

The seriousness of the circumstantial evidence acquired at the precautionary level also concerned the structure and modus operandi of a further criminal association aimed at trafficking various types of narcotic substances, in particular marijuana and cocaine, operating in the territory of the municipality of Lamezia Terme., and organized through a structure of drug dealers, in an intense activity of marketing of the narcotic substance, with widespread dealing from the operational logistics base - in via R. Il Guiscardo in Lamezia Terme - identified by the association for the possession, concealment, and sale of the narcotic substance.