The revenge of the Moccia-Franzese clan was imminent, but the blitz of the Naples Flying Squad led to six arrests. The provision, issued by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) of Naples and awaiting validation by the courts of Nola and Naples North, was signed by the deputy prosecutor Sergio Ferrigno, together with the substitutes Ilaria Sasso del Verme and Giorgia De Ponte.
The charges, to varying degrees, include mafia association, drug dealing, possession of weapons, extortion and attempted extortion. Among those arrested, the name of Mauro Franzese, 55, stands out, considered the head of the Moccia-Franzese clan. Salvatore Ambrosio (31 years old), Jonathan Piglia (29 years old), Vincenzo Rullo (41 years old), Salvatore Iorio (40 years old) and Salvatore Barbato (60 years).
The latter was injured in an ambush that took place on November 20th in via Salvo D'Acquisto, in Casoria, where he was hit by several bullets. The urgency of the operation is linked precisely to this ambush: according to the investigations conducted by the State Police and coordinated by the DDA, an imminent reaction from the group led by Franzese was feared.
Investigations have revealed that the control of illicit businesses by the Moccia-Franzese clan in Casoria has caused clashes with criminal organizations in Afragola and Caivano. Among the documented incidents, there is also a beating on August 6, aimed at extorting money from a victim.
The DDA has reconstructed the rise of the clan under the leadership of Mauro Franzese, known as “Maruzziello,” and its consolidation in the management of criminal activities such as extortion and drug dealing, often using armed raids. Franzese's figure was outlined thanks to the statements of collaborators of justice, such as Domenico Esposito, who in a 2017 report described him as a man respected by the Moccia family and a point of reference for Casoria.
The investigations, coordinated by deputy prosecutors Ilaria Sasso del Verme and Giorgia De Ponte, have also shed light on the relationships between the "new Moccias" and rival factions, documenting the origin and evolution of an armed conflict that culminated in the attempted double murder of Salvatore Barbato and Mauro Sorrentino.
Article published on 11 December 2024 - 21:56
