Anti-mafia operation "Ferrandina Connection": 41 precautionary measures in Basilicata, Puglia, Campania, and Sicily.

On the day of October 16, 2025, at the end of detailed investigations coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Potenza and Prosecutor's Office at the Juvenile Court of Potenza, Carabinieri of the Pisticci Company, with the support of Investigative Unit of Matera, have carried out two orders for the application of precautionary measures.

BasilicataThe provisions were issued respectively by GIP of the Juvenile Court of Potenza and from District Judge of the Court of Potenza.

From the early hours of the morning, in the provinces of Matera, Potenza, Lecce, Salerno, Syracuse, and Trapani, the military of the Arma went into action, with the support of the Carabinieri Helicopter Pilots of the 6th Nucleus of Bari and canine units of Potenza, Bari and Salerno.

The large-scale operation led to the execution of 41 precautionary measures, Of which 2 against minors, against individuals deemed responsible, in various capacities, for criminal association aimed at trafficking and dealing in narcotic substances, aggravated by the mafia method, From availability of weapons, from number of participants and from involvement of minors.

The crimes of external competition in mafia association, detention e illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.

The investigative activity, started in March 2023, has allowed us to outline the existence of a complex criminal association rooted in the municipality of Ferrandina (Matera), permanently connected with environments of the Campania crime.

According to investigators, the group exercised a real territorial control, managing drug trafficking and imposing its power with threats, assaults and beatings against anyone considered a rival in illicit activities.

In the context of such dynamics of violence and affirmation of criminal power, there would also be a attempted murder, which occurred on the night of Easter 2024, an episode that had caused a great stir in the town of Frederick II.

During the almost two years of investigations, the Carabinieri have documented numerous episodes of drug dealing and violence, proceeding to 5 arrests in flagrante and at seizure of significant quantities of narcotic substances, mainly hashish and cocaine.

The operations, still in progress, include personal, home and vehicle searches, also carried out with the help of drug-sniffing dogs and supported from above by the Carabinieri helicopters.

In total, the investigation involved 55 investigated, Of which 7 minors: in addition to 41 recipients of precautionary measures, Other 20 subjects were reported at liberty.

The authorities also found that some of the suspects they used cell phones inside the penitentiary institutions, maintaining contact with associates outside to issue orders and operational directives.

Based on the provisions issued:

• 5 Guests they were transferred to prison;

• 2 minors they were accompanied in containment communities;

• 27 subjects were placed at the arrest;

• 7 are subjected to theresidence obligation.

All those arrested are at the disposal of theJudicial authority, before which they will appear in the next few days for the preliminary hearings.