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Discuss all mafia families in the U.S., Canada, Italy, and everywhere else in the world.

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motorfab
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Post by motorfab »

Big news for Frank Madafferi. Rocco Arico could face deportation ? I thought he was born in Australia, but maybe not
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

Yeah, he’s Calabrian born, and sounds like when he was sentenced in 2017 over the extortion and firearms charges, prosecutors pushed for him to be deported back to Italy.

He came over when he was like 10 or something, totally different case to Madafferi who came over in his 20s or there about.
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

Andrew Rule wrote a piece on Melbourne mafia for the Herald Sun. I think he’s talking about Madafferi…? I’ll try and find out;

Deadline: Mafia figures playing it safe in wake of John Latorre hit

If you rule by the gun you die by the gun, which fruiterer John Latorre learnt the hard way. His murder has rattled some Italian organised crime players and now one top mafia figure has taken security to a new level.
Mark Buttler
and
Andrew Rule
5 min read
August 29, 2024 - 3:00PM


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Five months after mafia-linked market figure John Latorre died in a fatal ambush, the reverberations are still being felt.
Deadline is told some Italian organised crime players have been paying much greater attention to personal security than before the Greenvale killing early this year.

That extends to one of the mafia’s most senior figures who’s doing a bit more than just looking over his shoulder.


The word is that he’s engaged a new driver (read bodyguard) lest he fall victim to the kind of ambush tactics he may have himself employed against enemies as a younger man.

It certainly would not be a cheap exercise but, when you have as much money as this bloke, it won’t break the bank.

Better than ending up like Latorre, who was completely exposed when a hit team struck outside his home in Buchanan Place.

The killers, probably a cut above the average suburban triggermen, knew just when the 64-year-old would set off for work at the Melbourne Markets in Epping and made sure they were in position.

They escaped the area on a small motorcycle and very little has been heard since.

Fruiterer John Latorre was gunned down in Greenvale on March 12.
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

Damn. There’s a minute long video on LaTorre that accompanies that piece, but I can’t seem to figure out how to post a video or even an active link to it.
Hold on.
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

Nope. Goddamn paywall here, I swear.

Anyway, it details LaTorre’s murder and touches on his brother Vince and his mate Frank Madafferi, and how LaTorre visited the latter in jail regularly.
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Post by OcSleeper »

Only the article was behind the paywall, at least for me. I had no problem watching the video.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimea ... c225daba2c
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

Yeah mad. Thanks for sharing the link.

Here’s an article from the Herald Sun today, almost certain the figures in question are Rafael and Rafaelle Alvaro; the time in custody, the location of the courts and relevant dates, from SA and if course the lawyer. This is why there’s been no more hearings beyond the initial committal where I believe it was handed up to the high court, and also kept them in custody.

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Accused criminals entangled in the massive AN0M police sting plan High Court appeal

Two allegedly senior organised crime figures entangled in the massive police “sting of the century” have laid out grounds for a High Court appeal with huge potential implications for big underworld names.

Mark Buttler
and
Miles Proust
2 min read
September 1, 2024 - 5:00AM
Sunday Herald Sun
Accused criminals entangled in the massive AN0M police sting have laid out grounds for a High Court appeal with huge potential implications for big underworld names.

The two men — who cannot be named for legal reasons — have lodged applications to have the High Court hear an appeal on a range of grounds after AN0M evidence against them was last year ruled admissible.

Those South Australian men, alleged to be senior organised crime figures, say their state’s Supreme Court erred in giving AN0M material the green light for use in a firearms case against them.

They are believed to be the only figures headed to the High Court.

It is viewed as a key test for the legality of AN0M’s use in charging and prosecuting and is being carefully watched by others on remand, including bikies and Italian organised crime figures.

Legal paperwork the men’s lawyers have lodged says 450 people were arrested in the sweep with cases ongoing in multiple Australian jurisdictions.

Two men have lodged applications to have the High Court hear an appeal on a range of grounds after AN0M evidence was ruled admissible. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP)
Two men have lodged applications to have the High Court hear an appeal on a range of grounds after AN0M evidence was ruled admissible. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP)
Among those charged are the likes of Comanchero Mark Buddle, bikie strongman Christian Taumefolau and western suburbs kickboxer Omar Dib.

AN0M was a phone app sold to gangland figures on the basis it was surveillance-proof, but it was actually a trojan horse for investigators who received copies of messages sent.

Millions of them were harvested and later examined by the Australian Federal Police and the US Federal Bureau of Intelligence.

The South Australian men, who have been in custody without conviction since June 2021, effectively argue that the police had gathered the evidence without a warrant.

The counterargument is that there was no interception of messages.

AN0M worked by copying messages sent via the app and transmitting it to the AFP, along with other information such as the sender’s GPS location.

Comancheros Boss Mark Buddle was among those charged. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Comancheros Boss Mark Buddle was among those charged. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
The High Court submission argued that the SA Supreme Court erred when it failed to find that sending a text message is the start of its passage via a telecommunications system.

It argued the covert copying and transmission of a message after it was sent was an unlawful interception under the Telecommunications Act because police did not have a warrant.

But the SA Supreme Court found there was no breach of the act because the message had already been copied in the AN0M app prior to it being transmitted to the AFP.

The High Court challenge threatens to further delay criminal proceedings, with some accused facing the prospect of spending five years on remand before facing trial.

In July, accused Melbourne drug kingpin Danny Zayneh was granted bail despite allegations he had access to $5m in hidden cash and told associates he planned to flee the country.

Despite the flight risk, Supreme Court Justice James Elliott said the delay of Mr Zayneh’s trial was “intolerable” and may not commence until 2027.

“Even on the most favourable estimate, the delay in this case is as unacceptable as it is extraordinary,” he said in his ruling.

The South Australian men’s lawyer, Dominic Agresta of Iles Selley, declined to comment.
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

Yeah mad. Thanks brother, probably should have thought of just posting the link and seeing if it that worked.

Here’s an article from the Herald Sun today, almost certain the figures in question are Rafael and Rafaelle Alvaro; the time in custody, the location of the courts and relevant dates, from SA and if course the lawyer. This is why there’s been no more hearings beyond the initial committal that kept them in custody.


Accused criminals entangled in the massive AN0M police sting plan High Court appeal

Two allegedly senior organised crime figures entangled in the massive police “sting of the century” have laid out grounds for a High Court appeal with huge potential implications for big underworld names.

Mark Buttler and Miles Proust
2 min read
September 1, 2024 - 5:00AM
Sunday Herald Sun
Accused criminals entangled in the massive AN0M police sting have laid out grounds for a High Court appeal with huge potential implications for big underworld names.

The two men — who cannot be named for legal reasons — have lodged applications to have the High Court hear an appeal on a range of grounds after AN0M evidence against them was last year ruled admissible.

Those South Australian men, alleged to be senior organised crime figures, say their state’s Supreme Court erred in giving AN0M material the green light for use in a firearms case against them.

They are believed to be the only figures headed to the High Court.

It is viewed as a key test for the legality of AN0M’s use in charging and prosecuting and is being carefully watched by others on remand, including bikies and Italian organised crime figures.

Legal paperwork the men’s lawyers have lodged says 450 people were arrested in the sweep with cases ongoing in multiple Australian jurisdictions.

Two men have lodged applications to have the High Court hear an appeal on a range of grounds after AN0M evidence was ruled admissible. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP)
Two men have lodged applications to have the High Court hear an appeal on a range of grounds after AN0M evidence was ruled admissible. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP)
Among those charged are the likes of Comanchero Mark Buddle, bikie strongman Christian Taumefolau and western suburbs kickboxer Omar Dib.

AN0M was a phone app sold to gangland figures on the basis it was surveillance-proof, but it was actually a trojan horse for investigators who received copies of messages sent.

Millions of them were harvested and later examined by the Australian Federal Police and the US Federal Bureau of Intelligence.

The South Australian men, who have been in custody without conviction since June 2021, effectively argue that the police had gathered the evidence without a warrant.

The counterargument is that there was no interception of messages.

AN0M worked by copying messages sent via the app and transmitting it to the AFP, along with other information such as the sender’s GPS location.

Comancheros Boss Mark Buddle was among those charged. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
Comancheros Boss Mark Buddle was among those charged. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
The High Court submission argued that the SA Supreme Court erred when it failed to find that sending a text message is the start of its passage via a telecommunications system.

It argued the covert copying and transmission of a message after it was sent was an unlawful interception under the Telecommunications Act because police did not have a warrant.

But the SA Supreme Court found there was no breach of the act because the message had already been copied in the AN0M app prior to it being transmitted to the AFP.

The High Court challenge threatens to further delay criminal proceedings, with some accused facing the prospect of spending five years on remand before facing trial.

In July, accused Melbourne drug kingpin Danny Zayneh was granted bail despite allegations he had access to $5m in hidden cash and told associates he planned to flee the country.

Despite the flight risk, Supreme Court Justice James Elliott said the delay of Mr Zayneh’s trial was “intolerable” and may not commence until 2027.

“Even on the most favourable estimate, the delay in this case is as unacceptable as it is extraordinary,” he said in his ruling.

The South Australian men’s lawyer, Dominic Agresta of Iles Selley, declined to comment.
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Post by antimafia »

AustraliaSteve wrote: Thu Aug 08, 2024 7:13 pm
antimafia wrote: Sat Aug 03, 2024 4:43 pm Illicit drug lab equipment, chemicals originated in B.C., but wound up seized in resort city in Fiji
https://vancouversun.com/news/illicit-b ... eized-fiji
That’s wild. I saw a recent case that revolves around Papúa New Guinea and Australia (or Brisbane, specifically). It was a meth related case, but the profits were crazy. Like $2 to $6 million a week getting cleaned. Doesn’t help that a lot of those Oceanic countries are dirt poor, so officials are on the take to ensure things function properly. This case, iirc, involved a Hong Kong national who had spent time in Canada, increasingly being used as a transit point for transnational syndicates. There’s cases of mob-linked shipments coming in through the PNG-FNQ Route. The recent Formica-Forni case, for example.
Brazilian meth intercepted at Port of Vancouver, bound for Australia
The Canada Border Services Agency intercepted 1,280 litres of liquid methamphetamine hidden in a consignment of juice bound for Australia.
https://vancouversun.com/news/crime/bra ... -australia
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Post by antimafia »

Australian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens
https://apnews.com/article/australia-gh ... 18c0d7765d

Excerpt: “We allege hundreds of criminals including Italian organized crime, motorcycle gang members, Middle Eastern organized crime and Korean organized crime have used Ghost in Australia and overseas to import illicit drugs and order killings,” [Australian Federal Police Deputy Commissioner Ian] McCartney told reporters.
----------
Australian man allegedly behind secret messaging app used by gangs to plot murders, plan kidnappings, traffic drugs arrested
https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-ne ... 5f357b617d
----------
'Ghost' cybercrime platform dismantled in global operation, 51 arrested
https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybe ... 024-09-18/
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

This stuff going down with Ghost is fascinating. Jay Je Yoon Jung, 32 years old, living with his parents and ostensibly working days at their business. Only real sign of wealth was a black 2015 Benz with the numberplate “GHOST”. Lol 🤣

Apparently he would buy the handsets, install Ghost on the phone and sell them for $2k a pop through a network of dealers. Investigators “found” their way in, lol, somebody gave up a phone. Apparently the guy responsible for all the coke washing up on Australia’s East Coast a couple months back was using Ghost.

Sounds like mostly biker and MEOC in Australia, but the reports make a point of mentioning members of “the Italian Mafia”. I’m not sure yet if those arrests occurred in Australia..? Reports so far only drips and drabs about cases are coming out. I’ll try and check the court lists.


So far there’s mainly cases in Sydney, a whole MEOC crew named. In Adelaide there’s a case involving a local celebrity and another guy, one Sahand Sabermanesh, 39. He was in Brisbane when he heard from a neighbour that his house was being raided. Rather than run he returned to Adelaide and copped to a meth charge.
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Post by Tmr88 »

lol what a red hot number plate!
I can’t imagine them gleaning too much new info from the ioc angle, they would’ve kept chat on them platforms to a minimum after Ironside. But also, crooks love to brag to other crooks
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

Tmr88 wrote: Thu Sep 19, 2024 5:31 pm lol what a red hot number plate!
I can’t imagine them gleaning too much new info from the ioc angle, they would’ve kept chat on them platforms to a minimum after Ironside. But also, crooks love to brag to other crooks
Ikr? Isn’t that so uniquely Australian for a Korean kid who lives with his parents. This is part of the where the “transnational” in transnational organised crime comes from.

Yep, there’s couple more cases winding thru the courts related to this GHOST thing. There seems to have been a good amount of people using it, and it also sounds like LE got their hands on a unit.
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

More on the Ghost saga. Including one of the Italian arrests;

Mafia don’ caught, Irish cartel raided as fallout from Sydney Ghost network goes global
Perry Duffin
By Perry Duffin
September 23, 2024 — 5.00am
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International crime figures, including an alleged Italian mafia member and an infamous Irish crime family, have been arrested after Australian authorities infiltrated an encrypted crime network, known as Ghost, and captured its alleged mastermind in Sydney.

The foreign arrests reveal a strange echo in the underworld; criminals are accused of using encrypted devices while in prison to import weapons and cut deals with prosecutors.

Alleged mafia boss Giovanni Parlangeli was arrested in Lecce, in southern Italy, as part of global raids following the breach of the encrypted Ghost phone network.
Alleged mafia boss Giovanni Parlangeli was arrested in Lecce, in southern Italy, as part of global raids following the breach of the encrypted Ghost phone network.
The Australian Federal Police last week revealed they had infiltrated the encrypted platform Ghost, which was being used exclusively by criminals to organise multimillion-dollar drug deals and violence across the underworld.

The alleged mastermind, a 32-year-old Sydney man, was hauled out of his parents’ home on Tuesday morning and charged with supporting a criminal organisation, dealing with the proceeds of crime, and cryptocurrency offences.

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Jay Jung, who allegedly built Ghost in 2017, will remain in prison on remand while his lawyer, Jason Pham, considers options for the “geeky” computer whiz who had never been in trouble with the law until last week.

Dozens more alleged Ghost users were rounded up across Australia, accused of using the platform to organise massive drug importations, violent retributions and gun sales.

Latest figures from the AFP show 46 have been arrested and more than $4.1 million has been seized including more than $800,000 in crypto and $1 million in property.

Ireland’s police, the Gardaí, released images of raids that netted 11 alleged organised crime figures following the Ghost breach by the AFP.
Ireland’s police, the Gardaí, released images of raids that netted 11 alleged organised crime figures following the Ghost breach by the AFP.
But as the Ghost users sit behind bars in Australia, authorities around the world have also rounded up criminals caught up in Ghost’s breach.

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The AFP said while almost 400 of the 600 active Ghost phones were in Australia, the others were in Italy, Ireland, Canada and Sweden.

Anti-mafia investigators last week stormed a farmhouse in Italy’s southern region of Puglia at dawn and located Giovanni Parlangeli.

The alleged mafia boss had been off the grid since last year – until the Ghost breach, authorities say.

Cash seized in Ireland as part of the crackdown on Ghost users.
Cash seized in Ireland as part of the crackdown on Ghost users.
Local media described Parlangeli as a “boss” or senior figure who linked two organised crime clans in the region. He had false documents for travelling abroad and ammunition stocked in the farmhouse, authorities allege.

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After Australia, Ghost’s biggest user base was Ireland, and it was there authorities made almost a dozen arrests.

Drugs, cryptocurrency and cash were seized in bulk, Ireland’s police, the Gardaí, said.

Jung was arrested early on Tuesday by the AFP after they infiltrated the Ghost network allegedly run from his bedroom.
Jung was arrested early on Tuesday by the AFP after they infiltrated the Ghost network allegedly run from his bedroom.CREDIT: AFP
Gardaí seized 42 Ghost phones but believe there are about 100 in the country, the public broadcaster RTE said.

Four unnamed gangs were caught up in the arrests, authorities said, including members of a group known as The Family – the country’s biggest drug importers.

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The Family have only recently ascended over Ireland’s last generation of powerful gangs, particularly the Kinahan cartel.

Gardaí were asked if Kinahan members were also among those caught using Ghost phones; they declined to comment but said those arrested were “high-value” targets.

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The father of Jay Je Yoon Jung at his family business on Wednesday. The family are struggling to grasp the allegations against their studious son.
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Family of Ghost ‘mastermind’ in shock as ‘major players’ arrested
“We want to be sure they are feeling vulnerable around their communications and how they work with one another. That gives us investigative opportunities. The upper echelons within the organised crime groups were using the ‘Ghost’ system,” Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said.

The AFP also claim they uncovered a complicated plot being organised from a NSW prison, using Ghost, that seems to mirror an infamous Kinahan conspiracy.

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The AFP said Guy Habkouk, who is in custody accused of a massive heroin importation, had allegedly communicated over Ghost to source rocket launchers, machine guns, grenades and terrorist insignia.

Habkouk’s plan, the AFP alleges, was to alert authorities to a fake terrorist plot in exchange for a lighter sentence for his alleged heroin dealing. His brother, Wade, was convicted earlier this year for his role in the drug deal. Guy is fighting the charge.

But Guy Habkouk’s alleged plan to cut a deal with the courts resembles on that the Kinahan family played out in 2020.

Two Kinahan gang leaders organised to have guns buried on a farm in Ireland and then tipped prosecutors off to their location, claiming they had intelligence about weapon smuggling.

The goal was to have the courts cut them a lighter deal for co-operating.

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But the Kinahans were not aware EncroChat, the encrypted app they favoured, had already been breached by police.

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The mastermind, the Ghost and the global crime network.
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The mastermind, the Ghost and the global crime network
The Kinahans were charged with weapons and conspiring to pervert the course of justice in their drug trials.

The demise of EncroChat, along with its rivals Phantom Secure and Sky ECC, helped steer criminals toward Ghost, the AFP said.
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Post by AustraliaSteve »

Interesting that Ghost was being used by a guy in Puglia, I’d read a little on Kinahan involvement too.
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