Perhaps the "Palermo is strong" line is a reference to the "Pizza Connection," which, as you know, was a Bonanno Family drugs pipeline to Sicily, organized by Carmine Galante, and which brought "zips" (Sicilians) into high places in that family.
Yes, I thought about that. I would imagine that the Corleones did the same; creating a separate Zip faction (provided by Don Tommasino) for handling the smuggling and distribution of drugs.
"It was between the brothers Kay -- I had nothing to do with it."
