OPERATION AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME: PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TAKEN AGAINST 25 PERSONS

By the decision of the Anti-Mafia District Directorate in Rome, Aprilia (LT), the Direzione Investigativa Antimafia and the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri in Latina are carrying out a widespread operation to execute an order issued by the judge for preliminary investigations (G.I.P) of the court in Rome upon the request of the Public Prosecutor’s Office DDA – in Latina, requesting precautionary measures against 25 persons. Some of them are severely suspected of being part of a mafia-type organized crime group, deep-rooted in Latina and aimed at committing extortions, usury, crimes against public administration and drug trafficking.

The investigation carried out by the Direzione Investigativa Antimafia – Field Office in Rome, started in March 2018 and since October of the same year has also involved the Local Unit of the Carabinieri in Aprila, under the coordination of the Anti-Mafia District Directorate (DDA) in Rome. More in detail, the investigation has gathered significant evidence of the existence of a mafia-type organized crime group active in Aprila and its neighboring areas, which making use of the intimidating force of the association bond, the condition of subjugation and the code of silence deriving therefrom, aimed at committing several offences:

• drug trafficking, aggravated extortion, robberies, injuries and threats in order to control the area and be supported by the affiliates in prison;
• usury and misuse of financial activities against dealers and businessmen of Aprila for huge sums of money and imposition of usurious interest rates;
• possession and carrying of weapons useful to commit predicate offences, maintain the control of the area and reaffirm the supremacy of the organized crime group;
• to directly and indirectly manage and anyhow control economic activities, public procurements and hinder the free exercise of the right to vote.

Besides the personal precautionary measures against the suspects, to whom the principle of presumption of innocence applies, the judge for preliminary investigations also ordered the execution of asset-related measures and several searches are underway.

Today, at 12.30 pm a press conference will be held in the premises of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Rome.

Rome, 3 July 2024