From business success to mafia conviction

Amedeo Matacena, former deputy of Forza Italia and entrepreneur known for his ties to organized crime, died in Dubai in 2022 at the age of 60, under circumstances that are still unclear. His life, marked by entrepreneurial successes, a controversial political career and a definitive conviction for external complicity in a mafia association, ended with an equally enigmatic exit.

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Life and career

Born in 1964 in Reggio Calabria, Matacena came from a well-known family of shipowners in the city, thanks to the historic shipping company “Caronte & Tourist”, a ferry giant that operated on the Strait of Messina. With this solid entrepreneurial base, Matacena made his way into politics and in 1994 became a deputy with Forza Italia, the party founded by Silvio Berlusconi. During his political career, he was elected for two consecutive terms, from 1994 to 2001. Matacena presented himself as a representative of an economy that looked after the interests of southern companies.

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The belief

The dark side of his career came to light when Matacena, at the end of investigations carried out by the Calabrian judiciary, was accused of external complicity in a mafia association. According to the accusations, the former deputy had maintained close ties with members of the ‘ndrangheta, the powerful Calabrian criminal organization. In 2013, the Court of Cassation confirmed Matacena’s 5-year prison sentence. The legal system considered that his actions had indirectly benefited the criminal network, by providing economic and logistical support for the control of activities in the transport sector.

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The escape and the death

Before his arrest, Matacena fled Italy and found refuge in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where local laws prevented his immediate extradition. From exile, Matacena maintained a low profile, although his name was linked to further investigations into alleged illicit money movements and money laundering. While in Dubai, his wife, Chiara Rizzo, and other people close to him were involved in legal matters relating to his fugitive status, further exacerbating the perception of his life in exile.

On September 16, 2022, Amedeo Matacena was found dead in his home in Dubai. His body was discovered by his accomplices, who immediately alerted the authorities. To date, the investigation into his death is still ongoing and the exhumation of the former parliamentarian’s body and that of his mother (who also died a few months before her son in Dubai) was recently ordered. Deputy Public Prosecutor Sara Parezzan has registered Maria Pia Tropepi, 43, Matacena’s last wife, in the register of suspects.

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The messenger