Five people were arrested by the State Police for the crimes of usury, extortion and attempted robbery, aggravated by mafia methods, committed in Torre Annunziata and neighboring municipalities.
Article Key Points
The investigations, conducted by the Flying Squad of Napoli and from the Torre Annunziata Police Station, have shed light on a loan sharking ring that has seen several victims, including entrepreneurs in financial difficulty, subjected to pressure and violence to obtain payment of extortionate interest.
Those arrested, seriously accused to varying degrees of the crimes contested, are believed to be affiliated with or in any case close to the Gionta clan, well-known Camorra gang operating in the area.
The investigations reconstructed a modus operandi typical of the clan: the victims were approached and induced to request loans of money, often at usurious interest rates.
Threats to those who did not pay on time
Once they fell into the debt trap, they suffered threats and assaults to force them to pay, even beyond the agreed amounts.
In one case, an attempted robbery of one of the victims' cell phones was also reconstructed, an act aimed at causing further psychological pressure.
The investigative activities have allowed us to document the climate of terror spread by those arrested among the victims, who, subjected to continuous harassment, were induced not to report for fear of reprisals.
The police operation, coordinated by the Naples District Anti-Mafia Directorate, represents a hard blow to the Gionta clan and its ability to influence the lives of citizens and economic activities in the area.
Article published on 5 July 2024 - 10:35
