Naples – The criminal fabric of Naples has been, and continues to be, woven from fragile alliances and bloody feuds. Among the most complex and long-lasting clashes was the one between the Mazzarella clan and the so-called Secondigliano Alliance, a conflict that left a trail of blood and profoundly altered the balance of power within the Neapolitan criminal underworld.
The spark that lit the fuse of this war, according to judicial reconstructions and as contained in the precautionary order signed last month by the investigating judge Gianluigi Visco and which hit 57 bosses and followers of the original Piazza Mercato clan, dates back to January 1998 with the murder of Vincenzo Siervo, known as "o' Paccone". A crime that, although committed by members of the Alliance, saw a disturbing internal complicity within the Mazzarella family.
It is believed, in fact, that Gennaro Mazzarella had given his approval to the killing of Siervo – a loyal follower of his brother Vincenzo Mazzarella – without the latter's knowledge. A subtle pact, according to investigators, to allow Gennaro to consolidate his dominance in the Mercato area, nicknamed "'n copp' e mura."
Vincenzo Mazzarella, unaware of the agreement and with his criminal organization already strong in the territory, found himself unleashing the well-known Camorra feud against theSecondigliano alliance between 1997 and 1998. Gennaro Mazzarella, in the meantime, remained in the background, concentrating on strengthening control of the Market, supported from his sons Franco and Ciro, accumulating huge economic resources, especially from drug trafficking with Spain.
On one side is the new emerging power, the Mazzarella clan, with roots in the Mercato neighborhood and an increasingly solid presence in Porto, San Giovanni a Teduccio, and Barra. On the other side, the iron and silent structure of the Secondigliano Alliance, the criminal confederation that, under the leadership of Licciardi, of the Continis and of the Mallardos controls drug trafficking and extortion from the northern suburbs to Posillipo.
The conflict does not arise out of revenge or honor, but over money, control, and above all, drugs. MazzarellaInitially allies of the Licciardis, they are considered an integral part of the Alleanza cartel. But as often happens in the Camorra, alliances last until there's a bigger prize to share.
From that moment on, Naples began to be divided in two: on one side the Alliance, with its almost military structure, on the other the Mazzarella group, more disorganized but ferocious, ready to do anything to assert its supremacy.
The structure of the clan and its leaders
The final arrest of Gennaro Mazzarella on March 20, 2003 (after an initial arrest in Spain in 1999), did not mark the end of the clan's presence in the Mercato neighborhood. His sons, Franco and Ciro Mazzarella, took over the leadership and management of the clan, overcoming an initial period of disarray and briefly reconnecting with their uncle Vincenzo.
The complex structure of the Mazzarella clan, despite arrests and convictions, has demonstrated over time a remarkable ability to reorganize itself and maintain control over various neighborhoods and areas of Naples, from the historic center – Forcella, Mercato, Maddalena, Porta Nolana, San Giovanni a Teduccio – to the outskirts and the province, extending to Marigliano, Castello di Cisterna and San Giorgio a Cremano.
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Article published by Giuseppe Del Gaudio on July 19, 2025, at 07:50 PM
Comments (1)
The article clearly explains the complex situation of the Camorra in Naples. Clans like the Mazzarella and the Alleanza di Secondigliano are in conflict over power and money, but there are many nuances that aren't always highlighted.