Vibo Valentia, drugs, weapons, murders and extortions: 14 people arrested

This morning, 21 June 2024, the Carabinieri of the ROS and Provincial Command of Vibo Valentia support in the executive phase of the military personnel of the Provincial Carabinieri Commands of Reggio Calabria, Pescara, Chieti and Turin, have executed the precautionary custody order issued by the investigating judge. of the Court of Catanzaro, on request of the Public Prosecutor's Office - District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Catanzaro, in the comparisons of 14 suspects, on basis of the believed existence of serious evidence regarding the crimes, respectively hypothesized about them, of armed mafia-type association, multiple homicideo, external competition in mafia association, and other serious crimes, aggravated by mafia methods and purposes, such as extortion, cultivation of narcotic substances, illicit competition, disturbed freedom of auctions, rapina, weapons crimes.

In particular, of the 14 under investigation, n. 13 are reached by the measure of precautionary custody in prison e n. 1 is subject to the measure of house arrest.

The survey, coordinated by District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Catanzaro and conduct by the Carabinieri of the ROS and the Provincial Command of Vibo Valentia, has developed through technical activity, OCP services (Observation control stalking) for "field" feedback, acquisitions and analysis of statements from justice collaborators, corroborated by relevant evidence, e also with the activation of international cooperation tools, including the Joint Investigation Team with the Swiss authorities, and with the coordination of EUROJUST and EUROPOL.

The circumstantial elements acquired made it possible to outline (in the preliminary investigation phase which requires subsequent procedural verification in cross-examination with the defence) the continuation, despite previous judicial measures, of of the operations, in the "Preserre" area of ​​Vibo, of the 'Ndrangheta gang included in the "Ariola premises", with economic-criminal projections in Piedmont, Abruzzo, Switzerland and Germany.

The circumstantial gravity concerned the current structure of the association, determined as a result of a bloody clash with another group, in the alternation of criminal balances, also with affiliation rites that took place during the state of detention, demonstrating thus the persevering ability of the 'ndrina to penetrate prison institutions.

In this context, the circumstantial gravity achieved, At the state, on a precautionary level, through detailed and complex investigative investigations, Has also concerned the triple mafia murder, committed on 25 October 2003 in Gerocarne (Vivo valentia) and known including “Ariola massacre”, inserted within a long bloody feud between rival families who competed for criminal hegemony over the territory.

In the precautionary order, towards the suspects, drawn from the measures adopted, is been retained, At the state, circumstantial gravity, among other things, with reference, respectively, to multiple illicit extortion practices, cultivation of narcotic substances, illicit competition, disturbed freedom of auctions, robbery, weapons crimes, aggravated from mafia methods and purposes.
Contextually to the execution of the precautionary order, it was given execution of multiple search warrants against additional subjects for which yes involvement in the illicit events investigated is hypothesized, some of which residing in other regions of the national territory (Abruzzo and Piedmont) and some also in Switzerland, proceeding by these to activate the tools of international cooperation.

The procedure for the specific cases of the alleged crime is currently in the preliminary investigation phase.