More mafia groups run illegal business in Rome: report

Source: Xinhua    2018-04-27 02:28:53

by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, April 26 (Xinhua) -- More mafia groups run illegal business in Rome and in the surrounding Lazio region, according to a recent report shedding light on the latest developments and structure of mafia organizations operating here in Italy's capital region.

At least 93 different clans currently run their illegal business in the region in the last four years, according to the study issued by Lazio's regional government and Observatory on Legality.

The figure included both clans belonging to Italy's three traditional mafias -- Sicilian Cosa Nostra, Naples-based Camorra, and Calabrian 'Ndrangheta -- and local crime groups.

It marked an increase against the 88 clans registered in 2015.

Another crucial indicator to assess the presence of organized crime is usually the number of assets confiscated by authorities following mafia investigations and sentences.

The Lazio region counted 512 firms and 1,732 assets (mainly estate) seized from mafia groups and currently managed by public entities, the report showed.

Six judicial investigations were launched against 29 defendants on charge of mafia association in 2017 only, according to data provided for the research by the Anti-Mafia District Directorate.

UNUSUAL SCENARIO

Released on April 24, the "Mafia in Lazio" report was based on statistics, judicial findings, and records from police and anti-mafia prosecution offices. The research is now in its third edition.

Rome and its region, in fact, have never been traditionally subjected to mafia -- not since lately, at least -- and both authorities and anti-mafia groups believe awareness must increase.

"Rome is a very complex scenario, where the presence of mafia has different characteristics compared to other non-traditional mafia areas, such as northern Italy," Observatory on Legality chairman Gianpiero Cioffredi told Xinhua.

He explained organized crime in Lazio showed at least two specific trails: first, traditional mafias did not reproduce the structure they have in their strongholds in southern Italy, but remained more "flexible".

This was a change compared to what occurred in Italy's northern financial hub Milan, for example, where judicial verdicts confirmed mafias have re-created local units to oversee illegal activities.

Yet, these units remained under the full control of southern Italy's mafia bosses.

"Traditional mafias in Rome maintain a more fluid structure, because they benefit more by allying with local crime groups, or at least coexisting with them," Cioffredi pointed out.

This would depend on Rome's own nature, where about 50 of the overall 93 clans registered in the region would operate.

"The chances to blend in, the hardship to dominate the entire territory, and the overlapping of economic, administrative, and social activities make the reality of Lazio and Rome extremely fluid and dynamic...impossible to put under the control of a single syndicate," the report stated.

The second worrying feature was that local crime groups rooted in Rome's criminal world have begun operating with so-called "mafia methods" in latest years, according to Cioffredi.

A major example was provided by the so-called "Mafia capital" scandal in 2014-2015, which exposed a ring of local gangsters and corrupted officials that stole millions of euros by rigging public contracts.

The group was genuinely rooted in Rome, and not subordinate to any of Italy's three traditional mobs.

IN WHAT SECTORS THEY INVEST MORE

The economy in Rome and surrounding region was mainly based on tourism, commerce and real estate, and those were precisely the sectors suffering from the strongest infiltration, the report revealed.

That meant illicit revenues were especially reinvested in bars and restaurants, retail (both small-scale and large-scale), construction, and real estate.

Indeed, some three quarters of all firms confiscated for mafia by Lazio authorities from 2007 to January 2016 belonged to such sectors, according to another study unveiled by the Observatory on April 20.

Taking companies confiscated between 2011 and 2016, data showed 30.4 percent of them were accommodation and restaurant activities, another 19.8 percent were retail businesses, and 12.7 percent real estate.

The report also analysed such data with respect to the profile of the group involved, which highlighted an actual balance of power.

Some 41 percent of the firms seized in 2007-2016 were in fact controlled by "traditional mobs" -- 26.4 percent by Camorra, and 14.6 percent by 'Ndrangheta -- and 40.7 percent of them by local mafia gangs (the rest by unknown groups).

"This third report has allowed an in-depth analysis of the presence of mafias, while the first and second ones had provided a historic and a current picture, respectively," Cioffredi said.

The official deemed the effort was crucial for society, despite the possible risk of projecting a "bad image" of the Italian capital and its region.

"The fact that Rome is not historically subjected to mafia has led to a dangerous undervaluation of the problem over the last 20 years, both among the ruling class and the public opinion," he stressed.

"We need to boost awareness on the current situation, and on the risk of spreading of 'mafia methods' among local crime groups," he added.

Editor: yan
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More mafia groups run illegal business in Rome: report

Source: Xinhua 2018-04-27 02:28:53

by Alessandra Cardone

ROME, April 26 (Xinhua) -- More mafia groups run illegal business in Rome and in the surrounding Lazio region, according to a recent report shedding light on the latest developments and structure of mafia organizations operating here in Italy's capital region.

At least 93 different clans currently run their illegal business in the region in the last four years, according to the study issued by Lazio's regional government and Observatory on Legality.

The figure included both clans belonging to Italy's three traditional mafias -- Sicilian Cosa Nostra, Naples-based Camorra, and Calabrian 'Ndrangheta -- and local crime groups.

It marked an increase against the 88 clans registered in 2015.

Another crucial indicator to assess the presence of organized crime is usually the number of assets confiscated by authorities following mafia investigations and sentences.

The Lazio region counted 512 firms and 1,732 assets (mainly estate) seized from mafia groups and currently managed by public entities, the report showed.

Six judicial investigations were launched against 29 defendants on charge of mafia association in 2017 only, according to data provided for the research by the Anti-Mafia District Directorate.

UNUSUAL SCENARIO

Released on April 24, the "Mafia in Lazio" report was based on statistics, judicial findings, and records from police and anti-mafia prosecution offices. The research is now in its third edition.

Rome and its region, in fact, have never been traditionally subjected to mafia -- not since lately, at least -- and both authorities and anti-mafia groups believe awareness must increase.

"Rome is a very complex scenario, where the presence of mafia has different characteristics compared to other non-traditional mafia areas, such as northern Italy," Observatory on Legality chairman Gianpiero Cioffredi told Xinhua.

He explained organized crime in Lazio showed at least two specific trails: first, traditional mafias did not reproduce the structure they have in their strongholds in southern Italy, but remained more "flexible".

This was a change compared to what occurred in Italy's northern financial hub Milan, for example, where judicial verdicts confirmed mafias have re-created local units to oversee illegal activities.

Yet, these units remained under the full control of southern Italy's mafia bosses.

"Traditional mafias in Rome maintain a more fluid structure, because they benefit more by allying with local crime groups, or at least coexisting with them," Cioffredi pointed out.

This would depend on Rome's own nature, where about 50 of the overall 93 clans registered in the region would operate.

"The chances to blend in, the hardship to dominate the entire territory, and the overlapping of economic, administrative, and social activities make the reality of Lazio and Rome extremely fluid and dynamic...impossible to put under the control of a single syndicate," the report stated.

The second worrying feature was that local crime groups rooted in Rome's criminal world have begun operating with so-called "mafia methods" in latest years, according to Cioffredi.

A major example was provided by the so-called "Mafia capital" scandal in 2014-2015, which exposed a ring of local gangsters and corrupted officials that stole millions of euros by rigging public contracts.

The group was genuinely rooted in Rome, and not subordinate to any of Italy's three traditional mobs.

IN WHAT SECTORS THEY INVEST MORE

The economy in Rome and surrounding region was mainly based on tourism, commerce and real estate, and those were precisely the sectors suffering from the strongest infiltration, the report revealed.

That meant illicit revenues were especially reinvested in bars and restaurants, retail (both small-scale and large-scale), construction, and real estate.

Indeed, some three quarters of all firms confiscated for mafia by Lazio authorities from 2007 to January 2016 belonged to such sectors, according to another study unveiled by the Observatory on April 20.

Taking companies confiscated between 2011 and 2016, data showed 30.4 percent of them were accommodation and restaurant activities, another 19.8 percent were retail businesses, and 12.7 percent real estate.

The report also analysed such data with respect to the profile of the group involved, which highlighted an actual balance of power.

Some 41 percent of the firms seized in 2007-2016 were in fact controlled by "traditional mobs" -- 26.4 percent by Camorra, and 14.6 percent by 'Ndrangheta -- and 40.7 percent of them by local mafia gangs (the rest by unknown groups).

"This third report has allowed an in-depth analysis of the presence of mafias, while the first and second ones had provided a historic and a current picture, respectively," Cioffredi said.

The official deemed the effort was crucial for society, despite the possible risk of projecting a "bad image" of the Italian capital and its region.

"The fact that Rome is not historically subjected to mafia has led to a dangerous undervaluation of the problem over the last 20 years, both among the ruling class and the public opinion," he stressed.

"We need to boost awareness on the current situation, and on the risk of spreading of 'mafia methods' among local crime groups," he added.

[Editor: huaxia]
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