Maxi Blitz against the Ndrangheta: 18 searches and 22 precautionary custody between Monza, Como and Reggio Calabria

In the early hours of11 June 2020, the soldiers of the Provincial Commands of Monza Brianza and Como, with the support of those of the territorially competent departments, of the Dog Units of Casatenovo (LC), Orio al Serio (BG) and Pesaro (PU) as well as of the 2nd Helicopter Unit, gave execution of a precautionary custody order - issued by the GIP of the Court of Milano - towards 22 subjects, of which 21 Italians and one Serbian (16 measures of precautionary custody in prison, 4 under house arrest, 2 forced to stay), held, in various capacities, responsible for criminal association mafia-type, extortion, all crimes committed with the use of the mafia method, as well illegal detention and carrying of weapons ed association aimed at international drug trafficking.

The operation is the result of two complex and vast investigations, merged into a single investigative activity, carried out with the coordination of the DDA of Milano (Adjunct Prosecutor Dr. Alessandra Dolci, Deputy Prosecutors Dr. Cecilia Vassena and Dr. Sara Ombra) respectively, from the Investigative Unit of the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri of Monza and from the Radiomobile Operational Unit of the Carabinieri Company of Cantù, who reconstructed, sometimes, the same criminal episodes from different perspectives reaching, in absolute autonomy, similar results.

On the one hand, the investigation explored the criminal dynamics of the Seregno club operating in the municipalities of Seregno, Desio, Giussano, Verano Brianza, Carate Brianza, Meda and Mariano Comense, a club which, despite the heavy sentences suffered by its members following the Operation Infinito proved to be still strongly rooted in the territory, on the other hand it made it possible to document once again the widespread and total control by the 'Ndrangheta in the economic activities of the territory with particular reference, this time, to the "business" of security services in public entertainment venues located in the provinces of Como, Monza Brianza and Milano and to the activity of street sandwich vendors for which the 'Ndrangheta decides the locations and settles any disputes that arise between street vendors.

In particular, it emerged that the security services in public entertainment venues are controlled by the 'Ndrangheta through the imposition of "cover" security firms behind which hide subjects belonging to the 'Ndrangheta who, for the performance of the services safety, they only make use of specialized people with the required prefectural authorization to a small extent.

Emblematic, in this sense, is the sentence pronounced by one of the suspects who describes the "rules" for the awarding of security services in Brianza as follows:  "…omitted…. UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LIFE AND TOWNS OF BRIANZA, THERE ARE BALANCES THAT GO BEYOND THE "SECURITY" WORK BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE BEHIND THE "SECURITY" WORK IN OUR TOWNS HERE, OKAY? …"

The suspects moved with absolute bravado and determination and without any fear or restraint, using the typical methods of organized crime: "  I CALL THE MANAGER OF THE PLACE AND TELL HIM…”DON’T YOU AFFORD TO MAKE ANOTHER ONE COME FROM MILAN TO WORK WHERE WE ARE, BECAUSE YOU OPEN ON FRIDAY, WE COME ON SATURDAY EVENING, I’LL TAKE DOWN ALL THE SECURITY AND ALL THE BOUNCER, AND SHUT DOWN. ….!"

The conduct implemented certainly had the aim of promoting the activities of the "'ndrangheta" and, in particular, also the maintenance of the detained members: " EVERY MONTH WE NEED TO SEND A GIFT TO FRIENDS WHO UNFORTUNATELY ARE NO LONGER WORKING WITH US AND NEED TO EAT RIGHTLY NO? "

Alongside this cross-section, further activities typical of mafia-style organized crime have also naturally emerged, i.e. extortion activities and "debt collection" activities carried out using extortion methods in exchange for a percentage of the entire capital to be recovered.

Demonstrating the degree of infiltration of the 'Ndrangheta into the socio-economic fabric of the area, it emerged that this credit recovery activity was always requested, and not offered, both by entrepreneurs and also by ordinary people. Entrusting the recovery of discrete sums of money in exchange for a percentage of the entire capital to be recovered has now become an increasingly widespread practice among local entrepreneurs and today represents an important source of income for criminal organizations, which, in fact, they keep for themselves a large percentage of the debt collected, managing, at the same time, to enter the same client companies or, in any case, in the local commercial sector. Also in this case, the attitudes shown by the suspects proved to be absolutely suitable ford exercise particular psychological coercion on people as they possess the characteristics of intimidation deriving from the mafia-type association present and operating in the territory. :

"I ...omissis... I SWEAR... IF YOU GIVE HIM ALL THE MONEY BACK TO ...omissis... I WILL SHOOT YOU FROM THE ASS UP TO THE THROAT AND I WILL BLOW THEM OUT OF YOUR BRAIN... THIS FOR A LITTLE BUT FOR SURE... AND YOU KNOW VERY WELL HOW I THINK EH... YOU LET IT 'I ALSO SAID YOUR HOUSE ...omitted..."

“… AND I SHOOT HIM FOUR SHOTS IN THE HEAD AND MAKE HIS SKULL BLOW OFF… DID YOU UNDERSTAND OR NOT? SO TAKE IT AND BRING IT TO ME IN VERANO IN CARATE, WHERE THE FUCK YOU WANT... YOU GO AND TAKE IT... LIKE YOU ALWAYS DID WITH YOUR DICKS TO GO TO ... omissis... AND YOU BRING IT IN FRONT OF ME BECAUSE OTHERWISE I'M GOING TO HIS HOUSE TONIGHT … BECAUSE NOW YOU'VE ALL GOT MY DICK”

In particular, the suspects, among whom the cousins ​​stand out CRISTELLO Umberto, recently released from prison following a previous conviction for the crime of mafia association, e CRYSTAL Carmelo, they were able to instill fear and silence with the mere use of the surname "CRYSTAL”. One of the suspects says, speaking of extortion to be carried out, “ Oh no!!! Now I'm going there and telling him I need to pay the lawyers! “ […] “No, no, they give them to me! When they see me they are terrified inside! (laughs)”[…]  

Naturally, on the sidelines, a flourishing international drug trafficking activity of drugs such as cocaine, hashish and marijuana was also ascertained, supplied through the Franco-Iberian channel and destined for distribution in the Brianza and Como provinces and even in Germany.

During the activity carried out, 7 people were arrested in flagrante delicto for international drug trafficking, 2 of which with the help of the French Gendarmerie reconstructed a large-scale drug trafficking.

At the same time, a further 18 searches were carried out at homes, restaurants, shops and land in the provinces of Monza and Brianza, Como, Reggio Calabria, Lecco, Reggio Emilia, Macerata.