https://www.corrieredellacalabria.it/2025/05/09/ndrangheta-blitz-nel-cosentino-5-indagati-nomi/the operation
'Ndrangheta, blitz against the Abbruzzese and Forastefano: 4 arrests – NAMES
4 arrests, one house arrest. The investigations into the “Abbruzzese” and “Forastefano” clans, active in Cassano all'Ionio and surrounding municipalities
Published: 05/09/2025 – 7:58
COSENZA In the early hours of the morning of May 9, in the province of Cosenza, Cuneo and Parma, a precautionary order issued by the investigating judge at the Court of Catanzaro at the request of the Public Prosecutor's Office - District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Catanzaro was executed against 5 suspects, 4 of whom were held in prison and 1 was banned from residing in the Calabria region, on the basis of the presumed existence of serious evidence regarding the crimes, variously alleged against them, of mafia-type association and attempted extortion aggravated by the method and purpose of mafia facilitation.
The following ended up in prison:
Nicola Abbruzzese “Semiasse” (class of '79);
Marco Abbruzzese “u palumm” (class of '81);
??Pasquale Forastefano (class of '87);
Finizia Pepe (class of '88)
Prohibition of residence in Calabria for:
Francesco Faillace (born '83);
The investigations
The measure arises from an investigative activity coordinated by the Catanzaro Ddda and conducted by the Carabinieri of the Investigative Nucleus of the Provincial Command of Cosenza, consisting in verifying the complaints presented by two entrepreneurs in order to suffered attempted extortion, as well as in valorizing the statements made by a collaborator of justice. The results acquired, in particular, have allowed to reconstruct, in terms of seriousness of the evidence (in the preliminary investigation phase that requires subsequent procedural verification in the cross-examination with the defense), the operation of the 'ndrangheta clans "Abbruzzese" and "Forastefano", active in Cassano allo Ionio and neighboring municipalities . The extortion activities attributed to the suspects are part of the broader criminal project aimed at obtaining the funds necessary to guarantee the sustenance of the associates, with particular reference to those detained and their families.
The crime of mafia association is charged to a person considered the regent of the “Abbruzzese” gang following the multiple operations that led to the detention of the other associates, as well as to another person, cohabitant of one of the top members of the gang, as assistant in the management of the accounts, as well as intermediary in communications between the associates. The proceedings for the alleged crimes are currently in the preliminary investigation phase.
