Naples, Lido Mappatella, the illegal beach business continues unabated.

LThe free beach of Lido Mappatella at Rotonda Diaz is once again in the news due to yet another episode of illegal occupation.

A video, shared on social media and reported to Green-Left Alliance MP Francesco Emilio Borrelli, shows a group of squatters setting up chairs and umbrellas, demanding money from an unsuspecting tourist.

Among them, recognizable, is the same man in the red suit who last Sunday attacked journalist Marco Rota while he was documenting these illegal activities.

"Complaints go unheard, squatters always in their place"

“This is yet another demonstration of how, despite our constant complaints and the interventions of the police, these individuals promptly return to their places as if nothing had happened,” they declare. Borrelli and Europa Verde municipal councilor Lorenzo Pascucci. The two politicians emphasize the urgency of decisive action: "A free beach cannot truly be considered free if citizens are forced to submit to the 'commandments' of those who arrogantly and illegally profit from a public space."

Tourists and residents under blackmail

The video has rekindled outrage among residents and tourists, increasingly victims of a parallel system that imposes unwritten rules and abusive fees. "It's unacceptable that those who try to uphold the law are attacked, while illegal operators continue to operate with impunity," Borrelli and Pascucci added, calling for "a permanent presence and zero tolerance" to put an end to this situation.

Beach thieves: one arrest, but the phenomenon persists

On the security front, a pickpocket was arrested yesterday by police while stealing a backpack containing money, personal belongings, and an iPhone from a woman on the same beach. The man was arraigned this morning. "We thank the police for stepping up security after numerous complaints," Borrelli and Pascucci conclude, "but we want a truly free beach: free from thieves, illegal immigrants, and uncivilized people."

Despite the arrest, theft remains a concern: dozens of incidents involving beachgoers have occurred in recent weeks. This situation risks further compromising the city's image and the livability of public spaces, while illegal immigrants continue to operate undisturbed in plain sight.

A. Pug

Longtime contributor to Cronache della Campania
Always a careful observer of society and events.
He covers crime news and has collaborated with various newsrooms.