CASERTA – Coup at the top of the Casalesi clan: five people have been arrested by the Carabinieri of the Casalesi Company Aversa at the end of an investigation conducted by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate of Naples.
Among those arrested are three individuals considered to be leading figures of the Bidognetti and Schiavone factions, two of the most deeply rooted in the criminal gang.
Among the recipients of the precautionary measures is Antonio Fusco, 45 years old, an entrepreneur from the Domitian coast active in the catering supplies sector, considered by investigators to be a "stable contact" of the Bidognetti clan for the financing of the group's coffers.
Fusco is accused of having purchased numerous properties at auction, taking advantage of the intimidation exercised by men of the clan to discourage potential competitors. Furthermore, he is directly involved in a project for the construction of a restaurant of a well-known fast food chain in Castel Volturno, on land confiscated from a businessman in collusion with the clan.
The investigations also confirmed the involvement of Nicola Gargiulo (born in 1967) and Nicola Pezzella (born in 1963), both believed to be responsible for managing extortion in the municipalities of Lusciano and Parete, territories historically under the control of the clan.
Pezzella, in particular, is indicated as the Schiavone group's contact for drug trafficking on the Domitian coast. After a long period of detention, he would have resumed his illicit activities, returning to manage both extortion and the drug market.
Also arrested was an Albanian citizen, Hermal Hasanai (born in 1984), accused of paying thousands of euros per month to the clan to maintain the almost monopolistic control over drug distribution on the Domitian coast. Together with Umberto Meli (born in 1993), he is allegedly involved in an extortion of 15 thousand euros to the detriment of a local entrepreneur, carried out with violence and threats, in collaboration with other individuals linked to the clan for whom proceedings are being conducted separately.
The charges, of various kinds, range from mafia association to extortion, through drug trafficking and the reinvestment of illicit capital. The measure represents a severe blow to the economic and intimidating network of the Casalesi clan, which continues to exercise a strong influence on the territory despite numerous counter-operations.
Article published on 7 April 2025 - 15:15
The article highlights the complex and alarming situation of the Casalesi clan. It is important to know that the police are working to combat this phenomenon, even if there is still much to be done to improve security.