Italian police on Thursday arrested 37 people accused of belonging to the Puglia mafia, the United Holy Crown (Sacra Corona Unita, SCU). The arrests, on various mafia charges including drugs trafficking and distribution, extortion and illegal weapons possession , were made in and around Brindisi and Mesagne, linked to the Coffa-Romano clan. The bosses Andrea Romano and Alessandro Coffa gave orders from prison to the affiliates, through their wives.