https://livesicilia.it/droga-ndrangheta-pelle-controllano-catania/Mafia and drugs, the Calabrian 'ndrina of Pelle "invades" Catania
CATANIA – The Santapaolas do business with everyone. They tolerate the rise of new families in the city, from the Cappellos on down , and they also move into other territories. They command unchallenged in the provinces of Enna, Siracusa, Ragusa and a piece of Caltanissetta, and they even look around.
The DIA wrote this in its report to Parliament. “The consolidated and synergic forms of collaboration between the various island groups would also seem to reflect the propensity of the Catania Cosa Nostra to establish relationships with other mafia groups, in particular for the supply of cocaine,” the investigators wrote.
Operation Devotion and Pelle Gambazza
The anti-mafia directorate cites a police investigation that led to the so-called 'Operation Devotion' on 19 June 2024. "The investigations - the anti-mafia directorate recalls - highlighted the existence of a solid commercial agreement between some members of the Cappello clan and some subjects of the 'ndrina Pelle - Gambazza di San Luca".
The latter emerge as suppliers of cocaine to other groups. Furthermore, a well-established business relationship emerges between the Pelle Gambazza and other clans, “with leading members of the Santapaola-Ercolano family, through the Nizza, with the Mazzei through the Lo Cicero and with the Cursoti Milanesi”.
A 'strong influence' of the 'ndrina
These businesses would therefore seem to demonstrate the "strong influence of the aforementioned 'ndrina on the Catania territory". This does not take away the fact that the Santapaolas continue to be hegemonic on the territory. This is true both for the capital, where they are divided into groups or teams, operating in some neighborhoods from which "they take their name and to which a certain organizational and decision-making autonomy is recognized, and in the remaining provincial territory through the operation of groups and clans".
“ The family also boasts branches in the province of Messina – confirms the DIA report – maintaining consolidated and functional relationships with the Cosa Nostra families of Mistretta, Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto and with those active in the Nebrodi quadrant”.
The reorganization of the Santapaolas
However, following the arrest of his latest cases, he is reportedly “going through an important reorganization phase.” Operation Ombra revealed this, but not only that. “A member of the family, although detained, continued to exercise his power by deciding on the reorganization of top roles and designating new group leaders.”
“ Furthermore, his decisions emanated from daily contacts with the affiliates and, in particular, through his brother who would have dealt with the resolution of disputes both internal and external to the family. The investigations would then have had as their object the Santapaola component, documenting the reorganization of the top roles and allowing the identification of the new regent of the Catania Cosa Nostra and his direct associates”.
