Ruoppolo Teleacras - Mafia, 9 arresti tra Agrigento e Porto Empedocle

Angelo Ruoppolo's report (  / 40129859538  ) Teleacras Agrigento, December 2, 2015. Anti-mafia operation by the Flying Squad and the District Anti-Mafia Directorate. Nine alleged Cosa Nostra members from Agrigento and Porto Empedocle arrested. Four required to report. Here is the text: It was codenamed Operation "Icarus." The Flying Squads of Agrigento and Palermo, led by Giovanni Minardi and Rodolfo Ruperti, and the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, raided Agrigento and Porto Empedocle. The raid resulted in precautionary measures being taken against two other alleged members of the Palermo and Marina families. The investigation revealed that the historic bond between the Palermo and Agrigento families was never broken. The investigations reveal not only extortion of businesses, but also Cosa Nostra's attempts to influence major public services and projects, such as the Porto Empedocle regasification plant and transportation to Lampedusa. The racket also targeted the renovation of public housing. Specifically, today, Wednesday, December 2, 2015, six arrest warrants were served, three house arrest warrants, and four were subsequently ordered to report to the Judicial Police. Among those arrested are the alleged head of the Agrigento mafia family, Antonio Iacono, 61, known as "U giardinisi" because he lived in the Giardina Gallotti district, and his alleged colleague in Porto Empedocle, Francesco Messina, 58. They are alleged to have attempted to extort protection money from one of the companies involved in the construction of the Porto Empedocle regasification plant. One of the alleged patriarchs of the Agrigento mafia, Pietro Campo, 63, of Santa Margherita Belice, who recently reportedly had frequent contact with the Corleone bosses, has been placed under house arrest. The precautionary measures were signed by Palermo DDA magistrates Maurizio Scalia, Rita Fulantelli, and Emanuele Ravaglioli, and countersigned by the Palermo Court's preliminary investigations judge, Giangaspare Camerini. The suspects face various charges of mafia-type criminal association, extortion, illegal possession of weapons, and possession of narcotics. Among the suspects, prominent figures include Giuseppe Piccillo, 53, a resident of Favara, a trusted man of Antonio Iacono, who allegedly carried out several intimidating actions to extort protection money from local concrete companies. Then Francesco Capizzi, 50, known as "Il milanese," and Francesco Tarantino, 29, known as "Paolo," alleged associates of the Porto Empedocle family, who allegedly ran the racket on behalf of Francesco Messina. They allegedly attempted to influence, by demanding protection money, a local company that handles transport between Porto Empedocle and Lampedusa, and another construction company engaged in the renovation of public housing in Porto Empedocle. Among those arrested is Gioacchino Cimino, 61, believed to be associated with the Porto Empedocle family. Police wiretaps revealed the burden and suffering among economic operators in the province of Agrigento, as the mafia allegedly demanded not only protection money but also control of their businesses. Others arrested include Giacomo La Sala, 47, from Santa Margherita Belice, and Emanuele Riggio, 45, a resident of Monreale. Instead, the mandatory reporting to the Judicial Police was imposed on Vito Campisi, 45, of Cattolica Eraclea, Antonino Grimaldi, 48, of Cattolica Eraclea, Santo Interrante, 34, of Sciacca and resident in Santa Margherita Belice, and Gaspare Nilo Secolonovo, 47, born in Palermo and resident in Santa Margherita Belice. Interior Minister Angelino Alfano, speaking following the anti-mafia operation Icaro between Agrigento and Porto Empedocle, stated: "Another blow to the heart of Cosa Nostra. To its interests. To its leaders. This is the objective achieved by our police officers, coordinated by the judiciary, who with the operation called 'Icaro' have decapitated the mafia families of Agrigento and Porto Empedocle and crushed their interests. Sicily has long been committed to its redemption, and the institutions stand by the honest people, who are numerous and who, thanks to the successes of the Squadra-Stato, feel protected and sense the presence of the State every day."