by CabriniGreen » Mon Dec 28, 2020 6:34 am
names and PHOTOS of those the State Police (Central Operational Service of the Central Anti-Crime Directorate and Reggio Calabria Mobile Squad), following complex investigations, implemented the arrest issued by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate at the Reggio Calabria Public Prosecutor's Office .
The investigation, which unveiled a criminal organization dedicated to the international trafficking of drugs of the heroin and cocaine type, was characterized by the synergy between Italian and US Judicial and Investigative Authorities, in particular the US Department of Justice and Federal Boureau of Investigation , and has developed, from the beginning, in a constant exchange of information and fruitful collaboration through rogatorial activities promptly implemented thanks to the precious contribution of the Liaison Magistrate's Office at the Embassy of the United States of America in Rome .
In particular, the detention order of crime suspects, issued on 5 February last, was executed CARROZZA Nicola, born in Marina di Gioiosa Jonica on 24 April (in the photo);
CAVOTO Daniele, born in Benevento on 21 May 1986;
GERANIO Domenico, born in Locri (RC) on 1 July 1982 (in the photo); IENCO Cosimo, born in Monroe (USA) on November 29, 1991 (in the photo); IGNELZI Eugenio, born in Montreal (Canada) on January 31, 1976; LACATUS Daniel, born in Romania on November 7, 1974; MARANDO Cosimo, born in Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on 3 October 1932 (in the photo); MEMMOLO Andrea, born in Benevento on 11 September 1986; MORABITO Giovanni, known as “u'Scassaporti”, born in Melito di Porto Salvo (RC) on October 26, 1952 (in the photo); PARRELLI Vincenzo, born in Locri (RC) on 22 October 1971 (in the photo); PISCIONERI Carlo, born in Marina di Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on 9 August 1969 (in the photo); SIMONETTA Nicola Antonio, born in Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on 6 July 1949 (in the photo); TAMBURELLO Antonino Francesco, known as “Nick”, born in Partanna (TP) on 7 February 1969; URSINI Mario, born in Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on 20 April 1950 (in the photo); URSINO Francesco, born in Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on December 26, 1982 (in the photo); VONELLA Francesco, born in Catanzaro on 23 January 1987.
The genetic phases of the investigations, launched in April 2012 jointly by this Service and this Flying Squad, unfold from a meeting in Brooklyn (USA) between LUPOI Franco and the father-in-law SIMONETTA Nicola Antonio, indicated as the staff of a powerful criminal group in Calabria having as a logistic base Marina di Gioiosa Jonica, in the course of which a vast international trafficking of drugs between Italy and the United States of America was planned , through the port of Gioia Tauro.
After the meeting in Brooklyn, thanks to the numerous wiretaps initiated on the users referable to the family entourage of LUPOI Franco and SIMONETTA Nicola Antonio, the criminal plan of SIMONETTA emerged, since, after his return to Italy, he had immediately started a series of "singular" contacts with some relatives of his son-in-law, as well as with URSINO Francesco - son of the well-known URSINO Antonio, 'alias "Toto", born in Gioiosa Jonica on 8 November 1949, head of' Ndrangheta currently detained - in order to prepare the necessary network for the supply of drugs to be sent to America.
From the initial stages of the investigation emerged the figure of PARRELLI Vincenzo, cousin of LUPOI Franco, who was in contact with the aforementioned SIMONETTA to agree on drug trafficking.
The reference context mainly revolves around the area of Gioiosa Jonica and most of the characters indicated are directly or indirectly linked to an organization of the 'Ndrangheta type which belongs to the URSINO clan; in fact, the investigation made it possible to identify a double-threaded link between 'Ndrangheta families, with particular regard to the aforementioned family of Gioiosa Jonica and some Italian-American characters, settled in New York City, of clear Mafia extraction.
In this sense, the contribution of an undercover US Agent, whose pseudonym was that of "Jimmy", was fundamental for the initiation of the investigations. Thanks to his trustee, he managed to infiltrate the New York clans and establish relationships. with LUPOI Franco.
This made it possible to unveil an activity aimed at ensuring the export of a drug of the heroin type from Calabria to New York. In this sense, the Calabrian characters have put in place functional operations to find heroin to be made available to the American partners, purchasing drugs of the heroin type both in the Jonico-Reggino side, from the well-known 'ndrangheta family of the MORABITO of Africo (RC) headed by Giovanni MORABITO known as “U Scassaporti”, who in Northern Italy.
It was of fundamental importance the seizure of a kilo and a half of heroin, which took place in Reggio Calabria on 27 August 2012, which URSINO, LUPOI and GERANIO Domenico handed over to agent Jimmy, in the role of intermediary or in any case of auxiliary officers of PGs appointed undercover agents pursuant to art. 9 Law 146/06 by the Central Anti-Drug Services Department (DCSA), following the payment of a fee of 30,000.
A second type of activity has made it possible, unequivocally, to identify the factual ways in which to import the drug of the cocaine type through the Calabrian CARROZZA Nicola; the latter, in fact, had taken part in the dialogues from which it is clear that URSINO would have given a loan of a few thousand euros to PISCIONERI Carlo, an entrepreneur in the fishing sector, in order to join their project.
Basically the understanding of the associates was that for which a commercial activity (lawful) would be set up that was to act as a screen for importation and this through a company dedicated to the trade of fish products.
It should be noted that the creation of a channel for the importation of cocaine into Italy always saw LUPOI Franco as protagonists on the American front and, on the Italian front, URSINO and GERANIO among others. In that context, LUPOI, during the periods in which it was in the United States, used this PARRELLI Rocco to act as an "ambassador" for messages relating to the planned traffic.
According to the criminal program, Calabrian families have bought about 1 million euros of cocaine. The drug was supposed to leave a Guyanese merchant ship to reach Gioia Tauro, stowed in batches of frozen fish. An important feedback on the real object of the negotiations was offered by a police operation (which took place between 12 and 19 November 2012), implemented in Malaysia which affected the organization of drug supply by hindering the "programs" of the Italian and American organizations as approximately 76 kg gross of cocaine were seized in Malaysia against exponents of the Guyana cocaine supply organization.
Following the stalemate of activities aimed at importing cocaine through the Guyana canal, the investigations made it possible to identify further projections of international drug trafficking.
And indeed, the exponents of the New York family, in particular LUPOI and VALENTE Raffaele, had an acquaintance of theirs named TAMBURELLO Francesco Antonio, known as Nik, who, at that time, had been expelled, arrived in Italy in April 2013 from the United States of America.
The clump of evidence will allow us to demonstrate how LUPOI and VALENTE have "entrusted" the TAMBURELLO to a criminal organization stationed in the Benevento area aimed not only at committing drug offenses.
In this context, then, a connection emerged between the criminal group of Gioiosa Jonica (RC) and that of Benevento which was strengthened to the point that the individual members were subjected to a deeper bond, marked by affiliations and rituals typical of those mafia-like.
The investigation made it possible to clearly demonstrate the role of TAMBURELLO to act as a glue with the most varied criminal groups and to exploit their previous acquaintances in equally criminal American environments where he had been able to share the same interests.
And on the other hand, it is no coincidence that the aforementioned was able to speak with people in contact with South American drug traffickers. In this context, the trip of the TAMBURELLO to the Bahamas (September 2013) must be highlighted, using the economic coverage that LACATUS would have ensured Daniel and a certain "Angel" (later identified in HALILI Bledar) to buy the plane ticket, in order to being able to enter into agreements with drug suppliers.
Following the trip to the Bahamas, TAMBURELLO maintained contacts with both the Benevento and the Calabrians and, starting from 21 September 2013, he through LUPOI, began to maintain relations also with PARRELLI Vincenzo, until he went to Calabria, in Gioiosa Jonica , together with IGNELZI Eugenio, on the following September 26, to carry out their criminal projects.
The investigation activities also revealed the mafia connotations of the association headed by BRILLANTE Carlo. In some intercepted dialogues, one of the members of the "Benevento" group, VONELLA Francesco referred to a blood oath existing within the group and indicated the prominent characters of the clan in BRILLANTE Carlo, VALENTE Raffaele and AMABILE Michele. VONELLA, then, even spoke of symbols for the recognition of the members of the group, such as a ring, a "necklace" and a bracelet.
It should be emphasized that the results of the Notification Commission requested by the Reggio Calabria Public Prosecutor's Office to the US Department of Justice in New York City, aimed at being able to dispose of the material acquired by the undercover agent Jimmy, were included in the Fermo provision.
In parallel, in the United States, arrest orders were carried out for the crime of money laundering against 7 people residing in New York, namely: Charles Centaro (launderer linked to the Gambino family); Franco Lupoi (drug dealer linked to the Gambino family and in direct connection with the Ursino family); Charles Fasarakis (officer of the Alma Bank of New York); Dominique Ali (recycler connected to Lupoi and the Gambino family); Alexander Chan (broker for cocaine purchases on behalf of Lupoi and the South American cartel); Valente Raffaele (partner of Lupoi linked to the Gambinos, responsible for the establishment of the mafia association in the province of Benevento); Freddy (supplier of heroin consignments and mediator for cocaine purchases with the South American cartel).
The arrest orders of some characters of the New York City organization, issued by the American Judiciary, will be carried out. The Public Prosecutor of Reggio Calabria, Federico Cafiero de Raho, and the National Anti-Mafia Prosecutor, Franco Roberti.
names and PHOTOS of those the State Police (Central Operational Service of the Central Anti-Crime Directorate and Reggio Calabria Mobile Squad), following complex investigations, implemented the arrest issued by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate at the Reggio Calabria Public Prosecutor's Office .
The investigation, which unveiled a criminal organization dedicated to the international trafficking of drugs of the heroin and cocaine type, was characterized by the synergy between Italian and US Judicial and Investigative Authorities, in particular the US Department of Justice and Federal Boureau of Investigation , and has developed, from the beginning, in a constant exchange of information and fruitful collaboration through rogatorial activities promptly implemented thanks to the precious contribution of the Liaison Magistrate's Office at the Embassy of the United States of America in Rome .
In particular, the detention order of crime suspects, issued on 5 February last, was executed CARROZZA Nicola, born in Marina di Gioiosa Jonica on 24 April (in the photo);
CAVOTO Daniele, born in Benevento on 21 May 1986;
GERANIO Domenico, born in Locri (RC) on 1 July 1982 (in the photo); IENCO Cosimo, born in Monroe (USA) on November 29, 1991 (in the photo); IGNELZI Eugenio, born in Montreal (Canada) on January 31, 1976; LACATUS Daniel, born in Romania on November 7, 1974; MARANDO Cosimo, born in Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on 3 October 1932 (in the photo); MEMMOLO Andrea, born in Benevento on 11 September 1986; MORABITO Giovanni, known as “u'Scassaporti”, born in Melito di Porto Salvo (RC) on October 26, 1952 (in the photo); PARRELLI Vincenzo, born in Locri (RC) on 22 October 1971 (in the photo); PISCIONERI Carlo, born in Marina di Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on 9 August 1969 (in the photo); SIMONETTA Nicola Antonio, born in Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on 6 July 1949 (in the photo); TAMBURELLO Antonino Francesco, known as “Nick”, born in Partanna (TP) on 7 February 1969; URSINI Mario, born in Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on 20 April 1950 (in the photo); URSINO Francesco, born in Gioiosa Jonica (RC) on December 26, 1982 (in the photo); VONELLA Francesco, born in Catanzaro on 23 January 1987.
The genetic phases of the investigations, launched in April 2012 jointly by this Service and this Flying Squad, unfold from a meeting in Brooklyn (USA) between LUPOI Franco and the father-in-law SIMONETTA Nicola Antonio, indicated as the staff of a powerful criminal group in Calabria having as a logistic base Marina di Gioiosa Jonica, in the course of which a vast international trafficking of drugs between Italy and the United States of America was planned , through the port of Gioia Tauro.
After the meeting in Brooklyn, thanks to the numerous wiretaps initiated on the users referable to the family entourage of LUPOI Franco and SIMONETTA Nicola Antonio, the criminal plan of SIMONETTA emerged, since, after his return to Italy, he had immediately started a series of "singular" contacts with some relatives of his son-in-law, as well as with URSINO Francesco - son of the well-known URSINO Antonio, 'alias "Toto", born in Gioiosa Jonica on 8 November 1949, head of' Ndrangheta currently detained - in order to prepare the necessary network for the supply of drugs to be sent to America.
[b]From the initial stages of the investigation emerged the figure of PARRELLI Vincenzo, [/b]cousin of LUPOI Franco, who was in contact with the aforementioned SIMONETTA to agree on drug trafficking.
[b]The reference context mainly revolves around the area of Gioiosa Jonica and most of the characters indicated are directly or indirectly linked to an organization of the 'Ndrangheta type which belongs to the URSINO clan; in fact, the investigation made it possible to identify a double-threaded link between 'Ndrangheta families, with particular regard to the aforementioned family of Gioiosa Jonica and some Italian-American characters, settled in New York City, of clear Mafia extraction.[/b]
In this sense, the contribution of an undercover US Agent, whose pseudonym was that of "Jimmy", was fundamental for the initiation of the investigations. Thanks to his trustee, he managed to infiltrate the New York clans and establish relationships. with LUPOI Franco.
This made it possible to unveil an activity aimed at ensuring the export of a drug of the heroin type from Calabria to New York. In this sense, the Calabrian characters have put in place functional operations to find heroin to be made available to the American partners, purchasing drugs of the heroin type both in the Jonico-Reggino side, from the well-known 'ndrangheta family of the MORABITO of Africo (RC) headed by Giovanni MORABITO known as “U Scassaporti”, who in Northern Italy.
It was of fundamental importance the seizure of a kilo and a half of heroin, which took place in Reggio Calabria on 27 August 2012, which URSINO, LUPOI and GERANIO Domenico handed over to agent Jimmy, in the role of intermediary or in any case of auxiliary officers of PGs appointed undercover agents pursuant to art. 9 Law 146/06 by the Central Anti-Drug Services Department (DCSA), following the payment of a fee of 30,000.
A second type of activity has made it possible, unequivocally, to identify the factual ways in which to import the drug of the cocaine type through the Calabrian CARROZZA Nicola; the latter, in fact, had taken part in the dialogues from which it is clear that URSINO would have given a loan of a few thousand euros to PISCIONERI Carlo, an entrepreneur in the fishing sector, in order to join their project.
Basically the understanding of the associates was that for which a commercial activity (lawful) would be set up that was to act as a screen for importation and this through a company dedicated to the trade of fish products.
It should be noted that the creation of a channel for the importation of cocaine into Italy always saw LUPOI Franco as protagonists on the American front and, on the Italian front, URSINO and GERANIO among others. In that context, LUPOI, during the periods in which it was in the United States, used this PARRELLI Rocco to act as an "ambassador" for messages relating to the planned traffic.
According to the criminal program, Calabrian families have bought about 1 million euros of cocaine. The drug was supposed to leave a Guyanese merchant ship to reach Gioia Tauro, stowed in batches of frozen fish. An important feedback on the real object of the negotiations was offered by a police operation (which took place between 12 and 19 November 2012), implemented in Malaysia which affected the organization of drug supply by hindering the "programs" of the Italian and American organizations as approximately 76 kg gross of cocaine were seized in Malaysia against exponents of the Guyana cocaine supply organization.
Following the stalemate of activities aimed at importing cocaine through the Guyana canal, the investigations made it possible to identify further projections of international drug trafficking.
And indeed, the exponents of the New York family, in particular LUPOI and VALENTE Raffaele, had an acquaintance of theirs named TAMBURELLO Francesco Antonio, known as Nik, who, at that time, had been expelled, arrived in Italy in April 2013 from the United States of America.
[b]The clump of evidence will allow us to demonstrate how LUPOI and VALENTE have "entrusted" the TAMBURELLO to a criminal organization stationed in the Benevento area aimed not only at committing drug offenses.
In this context, then, a connection emerged between the criminal group of Gioiosa Jonica (RC) and that of Benevento which was strengthened to the point that the individual members were subjected to a deeper bond, marked by affiliations and rituals typical of those mafia-like.
The investigation made it possible to clearly demonstrate the role of TAMBURELLO to act as a glue with the most varied criminal groups and to exploit their previous acquaintances in equally criminal American environments where he had been able to share the same interests.
[/b]
And on the other hand, it is no coincidence that the aforementioned was able to speak with people in contact with South American drug traffickers. In this context, the trip of the TAMBURELLO to the Bahamas (September 2013) must be highlighted, using the economic coverage that LACATUS would have ensured Daniel and a certain "Angel" (later identified in HALILI Bledar) to buy the plane ticket, in order to being able to enter into agreements with drug suppliers.
Following the trip to the Bahamas, TAMBURELLO maintained contacts with both the Benevento and the Calabrians and, starting from 21 September 2013, he through LUPOI, began to maintain relations also with PARRELLI Vincenzo, until he went to Calabria, in Gioiosa Jonica , together with IGNELZI Eugenio, on the following September 26, to carry out their criminal projects.
[b]The investigation activities also revealed the mafia connotations of the association headed by BRILLANTE Carlo. In some intercepted dialogues, one of the members of the "Benevento" group, VONELLA Francesco referred to a blood oath existing within the group and indicated the prominent characters of the clan in BRILLANTE Carlo, VALENTE Raffaele and AMABILE Michele. VONELLA, then, even spoke of symbols for the recognition of the members of the group, such as a ring, a "necklace" and a bracelet.
It should be emphasized that the results of the Notification Commission requested by the Reggio Calabria Public Prosecutor's Office to the US Department of Justice in New York City, aimed at being able to dispose of the material acquired by the undercover agent Jimmy, were included in the Fermo provision.
In parallel, in the United States, arrest orders were carried out for the crime of money laundering against 7 people residing in New York, namely: Charles Centaro (launderer linked to the Gambino family); Franco Lupoi (drug dealer linked to the Gambino family and in direct connection with the Ursino family); Charles Fasarakis (officer of the Alma Bank of New York); Dominique Ali (recycler connected to Lupoi and the Gambino family); Alexander Chan (broker for cocaine purchases on behalf of Lupoi and the South American cartel); Valente Raffaele (partner of Lupoi linked to the Gambinos, responsible for the establishment of the mafia association in the province of Benevento); Freddy (supplier of heroin consignments and mediator for cocaine purchases with the South American cartel).
[/b]
The arrest orders of some characters of the New York City organization, issued by the American Judiciary, will be carried out. The Public Prosecutor of Reggio Calabria, Federico Cafiero de Raho, and the National Anti-Mafia Prosecutor, Franco Roberti.