The massive operation carried out by the Carabinieri of the Castello di Cisterna Group Investigation Unit led to the execution of aprecautionary guard orders against 44 people — 34 people in prison and 10 people under house arrest — were released by the investigating judge of the Naples Court at the request of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate.
Based on investigators’ reconstruction, the suspects will be involved in various capacities in mafia associations, extortion, attempted extortion, arbitrary management of games and betting, as well as criminal acts aggravated by mafia methods and allegedly aimed at facilitating related clans. The crime of exchanging elections with political mafias is also a problem.
Role of the Russo clan: real estate transactions and alleged payments imposed
During the investigation between 2022 and 2024, that will happen appeared that the Russian clanactive in the Nola area and neighboring cities especially in the field of real estate, he will demand payment of a certain amount of money on the sale of real estateregarding planning procedures and related practical processes to the Municipality for the work to be carried out, to increase the clan’s coffers. Reconstructs various episodes of extortion against municipal engineers, designers, businessmen, work clients, to acquire property or to authorize their purchase or construction.
Illegal betting and secret sites: the agreement between the Russo clan and the Licciardi clan
Among these illegal activities, a a system aimed at carrying out illegal gaming and betting activitiesto be created, with the consent of members of the Licciardi clan, by the Russo clan with agencies and sub-agents in the Nolano area, through secret bet collection and management of online cash games, through the creation and management of secret sites, with extortion imposed on the owners of betting centers.
Conditional municipal elections: investigation of Cicciano and Casamarciano
One of the most relevant aspects of the investigation is the alleged attempts to influence local elections: in the Municipality of Cicciano, in May 2023, and in Casamarciano, in June 2022. According to investigators, some suspects would use the intermediary of third parties to influence the vote and favor certain candidates.
