Major Anti-Camorra Operation in Naples: 71 Arrests and Significant Seizures
Naples, March 3 – In a large-scale joint operation conducted at dawn today, police and Carabinieri carried out 71 arrests across various districts of Naples, delivering a severe blow to the Contini, Mazzarella, and Sequino-Savarese Camorra clans. The operation, coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, involved the execution of four precautionary custody orders and numerous searches and seizures.
Targeting Historic Camorra Families and Modern Criminal Practices
The investigations, carried out by the Carabinieri’s Investigative Unit and the Naples Mobile Squad, focused on the criminal organizations representing the two dominant Camorra cartels: the Mazzarella clan and the Secondigliano Alliance. Specifically, the operation targeted the Contini and Sequino-Savarese-Pirozzi clans, which controlled illicit activities in the Vasto-Arenaccia, Borgo Sant’Antonio Abate, Poggioreale, Rione Amicizia, San Giovanniello, Forcella, Duchesca, Maddalena, and Sanità neighborhoods.
Prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, during a press conference held mid-morning at the Public Prosecutor’s Office, highlighted the evolving nature of the Camorra. “These operations involved the historic families of the Secondigliano and Mazzarella Camorra clans,” Gratteri stated. “From this operation, it emerged that the clans regenerate, with sons and nephews taking the place of leaders while they are under Article 41-bis (strict prison regime) and high-security detention.”
Gratteri further emphasized the Camorra’s adaptation to modern technology. “This is a Camorra that keeps pace with the times, with technology, that is quite advanced compared to others, even in the use of cryptocurrencies and the dark web. Therefore, it is a contemporary mafia.”
Leaders and Regents Arrested, Extortion and Drug Trafficking Uncovered
Among those arrested were the current leaders and regents of various zones, who maintained control over their respective city districts through a stable presence of affiliates, often enforced with firearms. The investigations revealed strong alliances and mutual assistance among the Camorra organizations, as well as widespread extortion imposed on merchants and entrepreneurs. The clans also controlled numerous drug dealing squares, with proceeds used to pay salaries to affiliates and support incarcerated members and their families.
Seizures Include Luxury Goods, Cash, and Valuable Champagne
During the extensive searches conducted at the homes of the suspects, police and Carabinieri seized a variety of luxury items, including designer bags, jewelry, and high-end watches. Significant amounts of cash, promissory notes, and even reserves of prestigious champagne were also confiscated, underscoring the illicit wealth accumulated by these criminal organizations.
Breakthrough in Emanuele Durante Murder Case
One of the four executed orders provided crucial evidence against the alleged second perpetrator in the murder of Emanuele Durante, who was killed in a Camorra ambush on March 15, 2025. Durante’s murder was reportedly in retaliation for his alleged involvement in the death of Emanuele Tufano, who was shot during an armed conflict on October 24, 2024. This conflict stemmed from armed clashes between criminal groups in the Sanità and Piazza Mercato neighborhoods, vying for hegemonic power through acts of criminal supremacy.
For Durante’s murder, a previous precautionary custody order had already established evidence related to the alleged instigator and another alleged perpetrator. The current operation further solidifies the case by identifying the second material executor. Preventive seizures of bank accounts, properties, and commercial companies, including those located in other regions of Italy, have also been ordered.
This operation marks a significant success for law enforcement in their ongoing fight against organized crime in Naples, dismantling key figures and disrupting the financial networks of several powerful Camorra clans.
Source: Corriere del Mezzogiorno
