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Drug trafficking, clandestine horse races, mafia association. The Carabinieri of the Messina provincial command have executed the orders of precautionary measures issued by the investigating judge, at the request of the Dda of Messina, against 33 people considered responsible, for various reasons, of crimes of association of a mafia type, races of clandestine horses, clandestine gambling in unauthorized sports competitions, animal abuse, fraudulent transfer of securities, extortion, association for the purposes of illicit drug trafficking, drug trafficking. Seizures of assets attributable to the mafia family are also taking place.
The Blitz Images -Video
The operation made it possible to dismantle a criminal group belonging to the Galli de Messina mafia clan and to identify a drug distribution network in action in various districts of the city of the Strait. The investigation also documented the gang’s control over the illegal gambling business in the illegal horse races organized at night in the city and suburban streets of Messina. All this also took place in close synergy with the Santapaola clan of Etna.
The investigation reconstructed the relationships between the Gauls and Sebastiano Grillo of Catania for the organization of races between the Messina and Catania stables and contacts with members of the Santapaola clan for the resolution of disputes related to the management of clandestine bets. The competitions between Messina and Catania were organized in the area of Fiumefreddo di Sicilia, on the border between the province of Messina and that of Catania. The dynamic that characterizes the control of clandestine horse racing arose when he intercepted an encounter between Irrera and members of the Santapaola clan aimed at resolving a dispute related to a race that Messina considered rigged by the rival stable. When watching some videos, Irrera realized that some young people on scooters had favored the catanesi’s buggy and asked that the race be repeated. This was granted thanks to the intervention of the Santapaoliani.
Roads were closed to traffic by groups of youths on scooters and motorcycles, purposely recruited by the clan to allow the smooth passage of horse-drawn carriages in the race. Among the suspects was also a compliant vet who agreed to administer drugs to the animals to increase their performance.
