Anti-mafia blitz in Palermo, Porta Nuova district hit
Twenty-nine people were involved. 16 were arrested and 13 were ordered to remain at home and report to the judicial police

by Editorial Staff

June 03, 2025

The Carabinieri of the Palermo provincial command have executed the precautionary measures issued by the Office of the GIP of the Court of Palermo at the request of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of the Public Prosecutor's Office, against 29 people, 13 of whom were already detained for another case.

They are accused of mafia-type criminal association, association for the purpose of drug trafficking, extortion, illegal gambling, crimes against the person, against property and related to weapons, all aggravated by mafia methods and methods and more.

Drugs and "taxes"
The current investigative segment has confirmed the central role regained by the city districts compared to those of the province, in the context of criminal dynamics. Among the most profitable criminal activities for the criminal organization, drug trafficking emerges once again, which in addition to guaranteeing significant profits to be reinvested or used to support affiliates and families of prisoners, allows the organization, through the control of drug dealing areas, to exercise a pressing action of control of the territory.

Pushers can obtain supplies from the authorized channel controlled by the district or use another one, paying a "tax" to the mafia organization. Failure to comply with these impositions is punished by mafia members even with violent retaliation. Similarly, digital gaming, like drug trafficking, represents one of the most profitable activities of the organization which, in addition to the control of the territory through the mafia imposition of "gaming panels", can count on significant revenues that allow it to replenish its coffers.

Cosa Nostra in step with the times
The investigations in continuity with the findings of Winterfell have confirmed that Cosa Nostra is a vital criminal association that is "up to date": if in fact it is strongly linked to the rules of the "founding fathers", to its ancient rites and to the carrying out of "classic" illicit conduct, such as extortion, drug trafficking and the control of clandestine online betting, on the other hand, the ability of its affiliates to use modern means of communication to try to escape investigative pressure has emerged.

The availability of weapons
The picture that emerges from the investigations shows something of ours that, despite the numerous operations coordinated by the Palermo Judiciary and carried out by the Carabinieri and other police forces, continues to maintain its grip: a cohesive, violent and vital association, which can count on an alarming availability of weapons, strenuously respectful of the organizational model and historical rules, well anchored to its territory over which it exercises constant control, significantly impacting the economic fabric through traditional illicit activities - such as the imposition of "mafia protection" on economic operators and the management of the most profitable drug dealing areas - but which draws its huge profits from the trafficking of narcotics, mainly cocaine and synthetic drugs, as well as from clandestine online gambling.

It emerged that the gang, in line with what was recorded in other city districts, can count on a good availability of firearms, not only limiting itself to possessing them but in some cases episodes of transfer and sale have been recorded. It also emerged that Cosa Nostra does not disdain to use force to resolve problems, recording and documenting numerous violent beatings.