Naples – An earthquake is about to hit the criminal system of Ponticelli, a suburb of Naples, thanks to the collaboration with justice of Giovanni Braccia, a loyal follower of the boss Francesco De Martino, head of the “Xx” clan.
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Braccia, a leading figure in the group that has its stronghold in the Fiat district, has decided to backtrack after years of militancy in the gang, handing over to the investigators of the Naples DDA a mass of information that could bring the entire organization to its knees.
Arrested a few months ago during a maxi-blitz that led to the execution of sixty arrests and the decapitation of the De Micco-De Martino cartel, Braccia, as anticipated by Roma, has already made numerous statements, pointing the finger at dozens of bosses and affiliates. His contribution has brought to light one of the main businesses of the clan: the monopolistic control of public housing in the neighborhood.
The Housing Racket: A System of Power and Intimidation
According to Braccia, the De Martino clan ran the public housing market in Ponticelli with an iron fist. "When a house was free," the new collaborator explained, "it was occupied only after paying the Camorra, in particular the De Martino clan.
If the apartment was closed, Francesco De Martino ordered it to be sold. The price was set based on the economic possibilities of the buyer, but the system was rigid and ruthless: whoever occupied an apartment, regularly or not, had to pay a sum of about 30.000 euros, of which 5.000 went directly to De Martino. The buyers were also forced to pay 5.000 euros to the clan.
“These payments were mandatory,” Braccia stressed. “Whoever refused to pay was immediately evicted by force.” The racket mainly concerned the housing in Ponticelli “di sotto,” that is, the Incis district, the Fiat district and via Argine, while for Ponticelli “di sopra” the control was in the hands of the De Micco “Bodo” clan. Without the approval of the gang, no property could be sold.
Hidden Weapons and Clan Warfare
But Braccia's revelations don't stop there. The former boss also revealed the hiding places of the weapons used by the clan to fight the war against rivals De Luca Bossa. "The weapons are located in via Hemingway, near my delicatessen," he declared. "They are hidden in a warehouse under the portico, in the ceiling, at the height of a hole where there used to be an air conditioner." Among the weapons found are a 9×21 pistol, a .38 caliber, two 6 mm pistols complete with magazines and bullets, and a machine gun.
Armed Escorts and Family Intimidation
Another disturbing detail emerged from Braccia's statements regarding the habits of the boss Francesco De Martino and his family. «De Martino and his wife went to pick up their granddaughter, the first daughter of Salvatore DeMartino, escorted by armed individuals,” he said. “I myself saw that Lina and De Martino were accompanied by Alessio Velotti, armed with a pistol. There was also another armed individual who was part of the escort.”
This practice is not new: last summer the District Anti-Mafia Directorate had already turned the spotlight on Salvatore De Martino, son of Francesco, accused of having persecuted his ex-partner after the end of their relationship, using his daughter as a means of pressure.
The consequences for the clan
Braccia's statements represent a very hard blow for the De Martino clan, already weakened by the maxi-blitz of a few months ago. His collaboration could lead to new arrests and further dismantle the organization, putting an end to a criminal system that for years has oppressed the Ponticelli neighborhood.
Now the ball is in the courts' court, which will have to verify and use the information provided by Braccia to continue the fight against the Camorra. Meanwhile, in Ponticelli, the air seems to be changing: after years of silence and fear, there are those who are starting to hope for a different future.
Article published on March 5, 2025 - 19pm
