A mafia clan that continued to operate despite the blows inflicted by justice, with a boss who gave orders from inside the Naples-Secondigliano prison, managed the common fund and coordinated drug trafficking.
Article Key Points
This is the picture that emerged from the operation of the Guardia di Finanza of Bari, which led to the execution of 22 precautionary measures (between arrests and other restrictions) by order of the GIP.
The investigation and accusations
The investigations, coordinated by DDA of Bari, they targeted the Misceo clan, already at the centre of operations Broad Spectrum and sentenced with a final sentence in September 2023. The group, rooted in noicattaro but also active at The Joy of the Colle, is accused of:
- Mafia association (18 suspects)
- Drug dealing (48 episodes, 42 investigated)
- Attempted murder (13 people, including a double-jump in 2021)
- Drug trafficking (14 suspects)
- Illegal possession of weapons (8 suspects)
Prison Control and Coded Language
The boss, already detained, would have maintained command through illicit phone calls, managing finances, drug dealing and assistance to affiliates in prison. The wiretaps revealed a cryptic language:
- "Bob" = marijuana
- “Versace jacket” or “barbed wire” = cocaine
- “Lemons” = hashish
- “The Pope who arrives from Rome” = large shipments of drugs
- "Documents" = money
The war between clans and 24-hour drug dealing
Il 3 March 2021, double attempted murder in Piazza Umberto I in Noicattaro had marked the clash with the rival clan Annoscia for the control of a council house and drug dealing areas. The mediator would have intervened Parisi-Palermiti clan, imposing a “mafia peace” so as not to compromise traffic with the area of Japigia.
The drug dealing took place through 24-hour sales outlets, with deposits in the houses of the historic center and systems such as bins lowered from balconies for the drug-money exchange.
The kidnappings and the organised structure
During the investigations the following were confiscated:
- 5kg of cocaine
- 16 kg of hashish
- 21 kg of marijuana
- A pistol with 22 bullets
- 5 “cupe” deposits discovered used as warehouses
Furthermore, 7 couriers were arrested red-handed, while for others 10 investigated the GIP will decide after the interrogations.
Statements from magistrates and law enforcement
“The Misceo clan controlled not only Noicattaro, but a much larger area, reaching as far as Fasano”, has explained Francesco Giannella, deputy prosecutor of the DDA.
“It was a well-structured system, with monthly contributions to inmates ranging from 500 to 1.500 euros depending on their role”, he added Archangel Trivisani, commander of the PEF nucleus of Bari.
Pasquale Russo, provincial commander of the Guardia di Finanza, sent a message to the citizens: “The institutions are there, don’t give in to resignation. We have restored safety to these territories.”
The operation confirms the resilience of mafia organizations, but also the decisive response of the judiciary and the police, who in the last two years have seized 2 tons of drugs and arrested over 40 people.
Article published on 1 April 2025 - 14:20
It is strange how a mafia clan can continue to operate even if there have been blows from the justice system. I do not understand how people can still follow orders from inside prison. The situation in these areas is complicated and worrying.