THE DIA CONFISCATED ASSETS WORTH ALMOST SEVEN MILLION EUROS FROM AN ENTREPRENEUR IN THE AREA OF MESSINA

The Direzione Investigativa Antimafia, a Directorate within the Department of Public Security, started in 2017 extensive economic and financial investigations coordinated by the Prosecutor’s Office – DDA – in Messina. The investigations led to the proposal for asset-related preventive measures made by the DIA Director, resulting in the seizure and following confiscation of the illicitly gained assets with a  value of about 6,800,000 euros, from a well- known entrepreneur in Naso (ME).

The lawsuit ended in September and the Court of Cassation ordered the final confiscation and the taking over of said assets by the State.

Besides huge financial and real estate assets located in the area of Messina, between Capo d’Orlando, Naso, Brolo and Sant’Agata di Militello, the confiscation also involved  a  50% share of a company  (shares and company assets) which is still operating in the field of leather production and sale (with a turnover of about 5 million euros when the  seizure was carried out)  and a  20% share of a consortium fund, operating in the same business sector.  The order by the  Court of Cassation confirms the importance of the preventive activity carried out by the DIA as to persons who are considered as socially dangerous and who, through unlawful  conducts, operate to the detriment of honest entrepreneurs and free market competition. The affected party, who in time had developed contacts with top level members of the “tortoriciani”, mafia-style organised crime groups was sentenced in 2005 by the Court of Appeal in Messina for usury against a bank officer. Indeed, in order to offset the debts generated by his credit institution the bank officer contacted many persons, including the affected party, to obtain usurious loans.

Messina, 11 October 2022