Italian police arrest 181 suspected mobsters in series of raids

• Italian police said they arrested 181 suspected mobsters in Sicily on Tuesday as authorities launched a series of raids targeting mafia operations. Italian officials revealed more than 1,200 officers were involved in the operations meant to dismantle mob networks across the Sicilian capital of Palermo.
• The raids are reportedly the biggest in several years, and aim to stop the mafia from rebuilding its governing influence.
• The law enforcement operations follow the release of some mafia bosses from prison.

Full Story

The mafia’s resurging reign of power over parts of Italy may be cracking as police increase efforts to take down mob operations.

Italian police said they arrested more than 180 suspected mobsters in Sicily on Tuesday, Feb. 11, as authorities launched a series of raids targeting mafia operations.

Italian officials revealed more than 1,200 officers were involved in the operations meant to dismantle mob networks across the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

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Why are the raids meaningful?

The raids are reportedly the biggest in several years, and aim to stop the mafia from rebuilding its governing influence following the recent release of mafia bosses from prison.

Investigators also revealed that mobsters still behind bars have used encrypted cellphones to continue criminal activities, something they discovered by bugging suspects homes and cars.

What have mobsters been saying?

Wiretaps and intercepted conversations caught Sicilian mafia bosses complaining about their waning influence and the “miserable” pool of new recruits.

Godfathers were also reportedly heard saying younger criminals were too quick to turn on the mob and become witnesses for prosecutors when arrested.

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Who are the alleged mobsters, and what are the charges?

The raids on Tuesday stemmed from investigations into drug trafficking, attempted murder and armed offenses. Several mob bosses who had already been released from jail after serving time were among those arrested.

One was reportedly Tommaso Lo Presti, who spent a dozen years in jail before his release in 2023.