The powerful Gambino crime family is hit / Italy and the USA carry out an operation against the Sicilian mafia

2023-11-08 22:01:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The powerful Gambino crime family is hit / Italy and the USA carry out an

Italian police and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted a coordinated operation on November 8 against suspected mafia members in Sicily and New York, targeting the powerful Gambino crime family and its associates.

Arrest warrants for 17 suspects have been executed, including seven in the Sicily region and ten in New York, Italian police announced.

Those arrested are accused of various crimes related to the mafia and criminal associations, up to extortion and manipulation of auctions.

The US Department of Justice later clarified that only 16 of the suspects have been arrested, adding that one suspect in Italy is still at large.

The Department of Justice confirmed that ten members or suspected associates of the Gambino family have been arrested in the US, and are accused of extortion, blackmail, retaliation against witnesses "and syndicate-related crimes."

"As alleged, for years the defendants committed violent extortion, assaults, arson, intimidated witnesses and committed other crimes in an attempt to dominate the landfill and demolition industry in New York," the prosecutor said. American, Breon Peace.

The Gambino family is one of five Cosa Nostra families - the Sicilian mafia - based in New York, according to US prosecutors. The other families are the Genovese, Lukeze, Colombo and Bonano families.

Cosa Nostra became famous and inspired the Godfather movies, although it has lost its power, wealth and influence in the world, as the primacy is now held by the Ndrangeta mafia, in the southern Italian region of Calabria.

But Italian police said their joint investigation with the FBI - which began in April 2021 - confirmed the "strength" of US-Italian crime links.

Among those arrested in the US is Joseph Lanni, 52, who is suspected to be the "captain" - leader of the group - who also goes by the names "Joe Brooklyn" and "Mommino". "Soldiers" of the mafia and their collaborators have also been arrested, the authorities said.

The mafia in New York has lost power in recent years, including from arrests, but also from competition from other criminal organizations. However, the mafia is believed to still be active.

The well-known boss of the Gambino clan, "Frank" Cali, was shot dead outside his home in New York in March 2019./ Rel