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Palermo, Italy – A massive operation targeting the Sicilian Mafia resulted in nearly 150 arrests Tuesday. Warrants were issued for 183 individuals, with charges ranging from mafia association and attempted murder to extortion, drug trafficking, and illegal gambling.
Over 1,200 officers participated in the pre-dawn raids, considered the largest anti-Mafia operation since 1984. While the Sicilian Mafia isn’t as powerful as it once was, authorities say it still maintains a strong grip on parts of Palermo.
The two-year investigation revealed the Mafia’s continued use of encrypted smartphones for communication and coordination. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the operation as a testament to the government’s ongoing fight against organized crime. Palermo Mayor Roberto Lagalla called the arrests a “historic blow” to the Mafia.
The operation targeted Mafia clans operating in and around Palermo. The investigation uncovered cooperation between clans on drug trafficking, a primary source of income, and collaboration with other Sicilian mobsters and the ‘Ndrangheta on the mainland.
The Mafia continues to exert control through extortion, demanding protection money from businesses and forcing merchants to buy their products at inflated prices. One example cited by investigators involved a clan controlling seafood distribution to restaurants in two coastal towns.
While Mafia leaders now prefer to avoid violence, the investigation uncovered weapons and instances of brutal beatings. The traditional structure and lifelong membership remain, but leaders are now using encrypted communication to avoid in-person meetings.
Despite past crackdowns, the Mafia continues to attract young recruits. The investigation also revealed a network of informants, including a clerk in the Palermo prosecutor’s office arrested last year for leaking files.
Although weakened, the Sicilian Mafia’s legacy of violence and intimidation persists. The ‘Ndrangheta is now considered Italy’s most powerful mafia group, controlling much of the cocaine entering Europe. Even so, the Sicilian Mafia remains a significant criminal presence in Italy.