‘Ndrangheta: Ten arrests in Crotone for criminal association and vote fraud

This morning, in the province of Crotone, the Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Crotone, assisted in the executive phase by those of the Calabria Hunters helicopter squadron, executed a pre-trial detention 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 against ten people, seriously suspected to varying degrees of the crimes of “mafia-like criminal association”, “mafia-political electoral exchange”, “external participation in mafia association” , “theft aggravated by the mafia method and purpose”. The precautionary measure of imprisonment was imposed for eight of the suspects and house arrest for two suspects.

The complex and demanding investigative activities, led by the Catanzaro District Anti-Mafia Directorate, and delegated to the Army of the Crotone Provincial Carabinieri Command, Operational Department – Investigative Unit, covered a wide time span and were developed mainly through technical captivity activities. , as well as on findings related to the development of observation and shadowing activities. The investigative results thus obtained have allowed us to map out (in the preliminary investigative phase, which requires subsequent procedural verification in cross-examination with the defense), the severity of the circumstantial evidence regarding the current operation of the Casabona ‘ndrina and to detect its criminal interests within the framework of the procedure. the political and entrepreneurial reality of the area.

In particular, the research results obtained have allowed us to reconstruct, in terms of the severity of the evidence, the existence and functioning of a ‘Ndrangheta clan, attributable to members of the ‘Tallarico’ family of Casabona, in contact with leaders and associates of the ‘Ndrangheta clans of the nearby areas of Rocca di Neto (KR), Petilia Policastro (KR), Cirò, Cirò Marina (KR) and the Papanice district of Crotone, aimed at enforcing , in the field of competence, matters related to the trafficking of narcotic drugs and to other criminal activities, capable of guaranteeing the economic resources, also necessary for the nutrition of the ‘basin’, which focuses, among other things, on meeting the needs of employees, prisoners and their families. The investigation made it possible to detect the methods of the association, including to protect the illegal activities of the consortium, with regard to possible controls by the police, and to protect the economic interests of the consortium, including through the control and conditioning of auction sales. of goods located in the area of influence.

Moreover, in terms of the seriousness of the evidence, the close link has been reconstructed between the promoter of the consortium and the current mayor of Casabona, who has today been ordered to detention in prison, which, before the October 2021 election round, would through the aforementioned ‘ndrangheta clan family and its subsidiaries, have found a large pool of votes, which enabled him to achieve the stated goal, in exchange for the promise of benefits, including the award of some municipal contracts for construction works and other utilities, to be realized soon. He is alleged to have used the assistance of other members of the municipal council, including a person holding the office of councilor, who is also the recipient of the current provision of house arrest, to promote the interests of the members of the gang, in particular both with regard to the entrepreneurial construction activity attributable to the gang itself, as well as with regard to the benefits in unlawfully enjoying public goods and areas designated for industrial settlements, and with regard to hiring and carrying out work activities. In connection with the implementation of the precautionary measures, searches and searches have been carried out.