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the interview
The Ghost of the 'Ndrangheta in the Fire in Corsico. "An Attack on Our Community"
Mayor Stefano Martino Ventura: «We need upright public administrators, far from the gray areas». And again: «Crime uses degradation to control the territory»
Published: 02/05/2025 – 19:05

LAMEZIA TERME An act of vandalism or a disturbing 'ndrangheta threat? While investigators are working to find out, disturbing shadows are gathering over Corsico , a south-west area in the metropolitan city of Milan . A rude awakening on May 1st for the community and the administration led by the mayor, Stefano Martino Ventura. "After two o'clock, two construction vehicles present inside the Cabassina Park were set on fire ," he says in an interview with "Corriere della Calabria" . "The firefighters, whom I thank, intervened immediately and prevented the flames from devouring the entire green area. The perpetrators entered to hit the two excavator vehicles, starting the fires. The park has been completely closed in recent months because it is involved in a major overall redevelopment project carried out with the PNRR," Ventura explains.
A new disturbing signal for Corsico, «an attack on our entire community and in particular on the Lavagna neighborhood which – the mayor tells us – has rightly been asking for redevelopment interventions for many years. In recent years, acts of this type and of these proportions have never occurred». As mentioned, it is still early to define it as a 'ndrangheta message, «the judiciary and the police will investigate this and I thank them for their commitment» the mayor of Corsico is keen to underline. «It is certain that crime has always used degradation as a tool to gain consensus and better control the territory . Precisely for this reason, for them it is unbearable to witness redevelopments and for us it is instead essential to invest in overcoming all situations of degradation, thus strengthening the pact of trust between citizens and public institutions. In the Lavagna neighborhood we are doing it with various projects».
The 'ndrangheta as a scourge of the territory
The 'ndrangheta in these parts, and it is a perspective unfortunately shared with Buccinasco defined as the "Platì of the North" , over the years has made its disturbing presence felt. In 2009 - as Paride Leporace wrote in this newspaper a couple of years ago - the prefects went on television to say that there was no mafia in Milan but three mayors of Cesano Boscone, Trezzano sul Naviglio and Corsico, belonging to parties of different political persuasions, wrote to the magistrate of the DNA, Vincenzo Macrì , telling without mincing words how their territory, the economy, the companies and the bureaucracy were controlled by the 'ndrangheta. According to Mayor Ventura, it is true, «in recent years, for example, several investigative activities have been carried out in our territory that have led to the arrest of criminals and people linked to mafia families: a sign that we must keep high attention on the issue, on the presence of the 'ndrangheta and on the attempts to pollute our society, historically penetrated by clans and 'ndrine» . «For this reason, we ask the judiciary and the police to always maintain high levels of control. In Corsico, we do our part and we have also established the Municipal Anti-Mafia Commission that carries out very important work of legality culture in the territory and with schools, marking a precise distance between public institutions and the world of organized crime».
The alarm was once again current, for example, in January 2023 when the writing “Papalia” appeared on the wall of the rectory of the church in via Cavour, with a heart and a crown next to it. For the mayor, “the gesture was certainly alarming but very clear statements followed from all the institutions and the vast majority of citizens, even considering that there are still people here who, without shame, say that “when there was the mafia, things were better”. Phrases that we always firmly condemn and that hurt everyone. Corsico is a good city, I was truly struck by the many demonstrations of solidarity received from my citizens after the burning of vehicles in the park, compared to the few, including those driven by political hatred, who minimized the gesture instead of expressing firm condemnation”.
Sanua victim of 'ndrangheta
Corsico has – unfortunately – also its mafia victim, Pietro Sanua, killed on February 4, 30 years ago in the ambush in via Di Vittorio in Milan. That morning they were together in the van, his son in the passenger seat, him driving the vehicle, traveling to Corsico, in the Milanese hinterland, where they would set up a stall to sell flowers. The lupara shots came at 6:10, just a few seconds after Pietro himself had noticed the strange and “risky” maneuver of the Punto aimed at their red van. A bloody murder that took place in the upper North with the typical methods of a mafia ambush, but still 30 years later there are no culprits. Behind it, the shadow of the 'ndrangheta, the business of the Calabrian clans in the “Platì del Nord” and a judicial truth that could arrive soon .
In this case too, the message from the mayor of Corsico is clear. «For many years it was never talked about, then it was “Libera contro le mafie” with the then mayor Maria Ferrucci to bring back memory and commitment with the torchlight procession that takes place every year in his memory in Corsico, where Pietro was killed. We decided to name our City Council room after Sanua, precisely so that it is clear to everyone which side we are on. Pietro is a symbol of service and sacrifice for the community, our inspiration to always move forward. Thanks to Lorenzo Sanua and Francesca, Pietro's son and wife, with whom we share the desire that justice is finally done for that 'ndrangheta murder».
In recent years a lot has changed, Corsico has developed antibodies against organized crime. But attention must always remain high. An opinion shared by the mayor Stefano Martino Ventura.
«A lot has changed but a lot still needs to change. Corsico needs upright public administrators, distant from the gray areas where organized crime lurks, and who are not afraid to make strong decisions. The work of the Administration on the territory must however be supported by a culture of legality shared with the citizens and by the investigation and repression activities of the police forces to whom we ask maximum commitment and presence, reiterating our continuous collaboration". ( g.curcio@corrierecal.it )