ASSETS AND COMPANIES CONFISCATED FOR AN OVERALL VALUE OF 65 MILLION EUROS FROM THREE ENTREPRENEURS FROM GELA, OPERATING IN THE SALE OF CARS AND THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR, ALLEGEDLY CLOSE TO THE “COSA NOSTRA”

The Direzione Investigativa Antimafia, an institution within the Department of Public Security, and the Guardia di Finanza of the Provincial Command in Caltanissetta carried out a confiscation order of assets ( 1st degree) issued by the Court in Caltanissetta – Section Preventive Measures, on proposal of the District Antimafia Directorate in Caltanissetta against LUCA Salvatore, LUCA Rocco, and LUCA Francesco Antonio, entrepreneurs from Gela , well-known in the real estate sector, but mainly in the trade of even luxury cars.            

The entrepreneurs affected by the asset-related preventive measure, according to the antimafia legislation, are currently charged in a criminal judicial proceeding for external support to a mafia-type criminal association. They have been considered persons of qualified social dangerousness: in particular appropriate evidence has been found to indicate, at a preventive stage, the closeness to and the complicity with criminal organizations linked to cosa nostra. A sort of business-aimed opportunism with affiliates of the “RINZIVILLO” mafia family.

The economic investigations found out that the suspects reinvested huge capitals, which the Court deemed to have illegal origin, in numerous companies, registered in the name of relatives and operating in the building sector and the sale of cars.

The confiscation measure, amounting to approx. 65 million euros, is based on the results of complex and deep investigations. These were coordinated by the DDA of the Prosecutor’s Office in Caltanissetta and delegated, especially the ones concerning the asset-related checks, to the D.I.A. and to the Guardia di Finanza in Caltanissetta. The order of confiscation was preceded by the asset seizure in February 2021.

Based on  the criminal proceeding against the am suspects, the  G.I.C.O. of the Guardia di   Finanza in Caltanissetta carried out the pre-trial detention order issued by the investigating judge (G.I.P.) within operation “CAMALEONTE” for the offence under articles 110, 416 bis c.c. and for other offences since “…although they were not an integral part of the mafia-type crime group called cosa nostra operating in Catania, Gela and Vittoria and neighboring areas they willingly  took part in said syndicate, participating in the activities on a regularly basis to pursue the goals of the mafia-type crime group, specifically of the mafia-type family in Gela (Rinzivillo and Emmanuello).

The economic activities and the assets subjected to the preventive measure involved the whole corporate assets and shares, no. 9 companies, no. 31 plots of land in Gela (CL), no. 186 buildings in Gela (CL), Marina di Ragusa (RG) and no. 23 bank/ financial accounts and/or insurance policies.