Catania, blow against the Mafia: 22 arrests for drug trafficking and prison smuggling
Twenty-two people arrested at dawn in Catania in an operation against the Cappello-Bonaccorsi clan. The investigation targeted drug trafficking, shootings and the smuggling of drugs into Sicilian prisons.
Mafia in Catania: raid against the Cappello-Bonaccorsi clan
According to lasicilia.it, twenty-two people were arrested at dawn in Catania in an operation by the Mobile Squad coordinated by the District Prosecutor's Office. The judge deferred a decision regarding four other people until the conclusion of preliminary interrogations. The precautionary custody order was signed on 3 July 2026 by the judge for preliminary investigations at the Catania Court.
The defendants are accused of criminal association aimed at drug trafficking, aggravated by the use of weapons and the presence of more than ten associates. The charges also include purchase, possession and sale of drugs, possession and illegal carrying of firearms, personal injury and threats aggravated by mafia-style methods.
The origins of the investigation: the Ecs Dogana shooting
The investigation began following a shooting in the spring of 2022 at the Catania nightclub Ecs Dogana. The incident occurred during a brawl that took place in the night between 16 and 17 April 2022, when several young men close to the Mazzei clan — known as the Carcagnusi — prevented Niko Pandetta, a well-known Catania neomelodic singer and nephew of boss Turi Cappello, from performing together with trapper Tony Effe. Precautionary custody orders were already issued on 9 August 2022 for five people involved in the brawl.
The criminal group, composed mainly of young men, is accused of adopting mafia-style methods and of facilitating the Cappello-Bonaccorsi clan, which was based at Villaggio Sant'Agata. Investigators reconstructed a hierarchical organisational structure, with roles and tasks divided among the affiliates.
Subsequent shootings and internal conflicts
From 14 June 2023 onwards, a series of shootings were recorded at Villaggio Sant'Agata and Librino. Investigators believe these incidents were connected to the Ecs Dogana events and resulted from the conflict between two factions within the group: one intended to punish a member deemed disloyal and the other to defend him. Key to the reconstruction was the monitoring of a woman with family ties to one of the protagonists, who reportedly conveyed details of the disputes to family members.
On the afternoon of 16 June 2023, the clashes continued at Villaggio Sant'Agata. On 21 June, a dispute over an unpaid debt of 500 euros led one of the factions to intervene in favour of the debtor, preventing the creditor from recovering the debt. Between 22 and 25 June 2023, an armed counter-offensive followed against a residential building in Camporotondo Etneo, riddled with numerous shots including large-calibre rounds, in which several recipients of today's order participated.
Drug trafficking in the streets and the new prison frontier
The group's illegal activities were not limited to traditional dealing in homes at Villaggio Sant'Agata and Librino: the affiliates had expanded the business to smuggling drugs, mobile phones and sim cards into Sicilian prisons, exploiting experts in drone piloting and sending correspondence with concealed narcotics.
During the investigation, the figure of a Catania lawyer emerged as a recipient of the precautionary order, who is suspected of having smuggled drugs into Agrigento prison to resell them inside the facility. Investigators also reconstructed an attempt to involve a medical manager employed at Noto prison in Syracuse province, who was also issued a precautionary measure, to deliver drugs and sim cards to an affiliate detained in the facility. The material would have been concealed in plastic balloons containing fish and meat.
According to the reconstructions, a smartphone could cost up to 15 times the market price, with detained affiliates imposing exorbitant prices on their imprisoned clientele.
Seizures and evidence gathered
During the investigation, quantities of crack, cocaine, hashish and marijuana were seized, along with material for packaging and securing the dealing pitches, a drone, mobile phones, sim cards and ammunition for firearms of various calibres.
Investigators also gathered a direct audio interception of a song written by a neomelodic singer close to the group, whose lyrics would recount in detail the entire story linked to the Ecs Dogana. The investigation, which began in April 2022 and concluded in 2024, has documented the evolution of a criminal organisation that progressively expanded its business operations also within penal institutions.
Source: Google News IT — Crime (it)