Hard blow to the mafia district of Partinico (Palermo). In the early hours of today, in the province of Palermo and in several regions of the national territory, the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Palermo, has delegated the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri of Palermo and the Anti-Mafia Investigative Directorate for the execution of a precautionary custody order in against 85 suspects (63 in prison, 18 under house arrest and 4 subject to residence obligations and presentation to the judicial police) held in various capacities responsible for mafia association, external competition in mafia association, association aimed at drug trafficking, crimes in weapons, drugs, extortion and corruption.
The operation, called ‘Gordio’ and carried out with the support of canine units, the helicopter unit and the Sicilian hunting squadron, involved the provinces of Palermo, Trapani, Latina, Naples, Rome and Nuoro where 70 of the measures were carried out overall precautionary measures for mafia association charges, external competition in mafia association, association aimed at drug trafficking (5 organizations identified) and crimes such as drug production and trafficking (marijuana, cocaine and hashish), but also crimes relating to weapons and against public administration (corruption of a prison police officer serving at the Pagliarelli prison in Palermo.
The investigations, launched by the Compagnia di Partinico and developed for two years in synergy with the Monreale Investigative Unit, began in November 2017 from the analysis of the relationships between the Partinian entrepreneur of the wine sector Ottavio Lo Cricchio and Michele Vitale, exponent of Vitale family, known as ‘Fardazza’ and historically hegemonic within the mafia district. The reconstruction of the criminal assets has also brought to light the role of three other members of the family: Giuseppa, Giusy, VItale, in the past regent of the district and then collaborator of justice and currently not subject to the protection program, her sister Antonina Vitale and the son Michele Casarrubia. There is also a prison police officer among the recipients of the 85 precautionary measures. The man, serving at the Pagliarelli prison in Palermo, is accused of aggravated corruption and is under house arrest. He would have favored external communications from Francesco Nania, arrested for mafia association in February 2018, because he was identified as the contact person for the Partinico family.