Camorra 2.0: Dia reveals new economic infiltration strategies and advanced technology

Naples – The Camorra is consolidating its power by exploiting the fragilities of the Campania economic system, the slowdown in production and the high unemployment rate.

This is what emerges from the 2024 Report of the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DAY), which paints a picture of an increasingly dynamic and adaptable criminal organization, transforming itself into a real “mafia enterprise” that hinders regional development with its ramifications in public administration and the legal economy.

The dominant cartels and fragmentation in the Neapolitan area

According to the DIA analysis, two large cartels, considered the "criminal epicentres", still operate in Naples: theSecondigliano alliance and the Mazzarellas, in constant opposition. Alongside these, a fragmented criminal landscape sees numerous smaller family-based groups competing for control of the territory with episodes of violence, contributing mainly to the management of the lucrative drug dealing areas.

In the province of Caserta, the scene is dominated by the Casalesi clan, which has developed a structural evolution towards greater internal autonomy of its historical components (Schiavone, Bidognetti, Zagaria, Iovine). This organization is known for its ability to control the economy and infiltrate public and private sectors, such as construction and waste management, through collusive and intimidating conduct.

The provinces of Benevento and Avellino, although less involved, see the presence of family clans mainly involved in drug dealing, extortion and, more recently, infiltration of judicial auctions.

Encrypted Technologies and Drones in Prison: The New Criminal Frontiers

The DIA report highlights a worrying technological leap forward by criminal organizations. The Camorra increasingly uses encrypted devices for internal communications, eluding traditional investigative interception methods, and develops sophisticated digital procedures to launder money of illicit origin through international triangulation.

Another aspect of particular importance concerns the illegal introduction of cell phones into prison facilities using drones. Thanks to these devices, prisoners are able to maintain contact with their criminal groups, giving instructions to free members, planning illegal activities and organizing drug dealing in prisons.

Infiltration into Local Authorities and Key Sectors

The DIA highlights the pervasive interference of organized crime within local authorities in Campania, aimed at influencing their decision-making processes for the awarding of public contracts, another area of ​​priority interest for the Camorra.

With a “marked ability to build complex relationships with certain representatives of local administrations and businesses”, the clans manage to win important public contracts, both with direct assignments to associated companies and through the use of subcontracts.

Drug trafficking and dealing, extortion and usury remain the most widespread and profitable areas, even for smaller groups. However, recent investigations have found a growing interest in high-profit illicit activities with low legal risk, such as the control of bankruptcy auctions and real estate foreclosure procedures, and the use of so-called "shell companies" to issue invoices for non-existent transactions, aimed at money laundering and tax fraud.

During 2024, the Campania Prefectures adopted a total of 240 anti-mafia interdiction measures, of which 232 in the provinces of Naples and Caserta alone, highlighting the trend towards the diversification of illicit interests in various economic sectors.

The Camorra confirms itself as a phenomenon in continuous evolution, with strong roots in the territory and a dangerous capacity to infiltrate civil society and local institutions, also projecting itself into other regions.