Ercolano – A feud for control of the lucrative drug trafficking ring in the heart of Ercolano, and particularly in the historic center, is thought to be the motive behind the attempted murder of Claudio Scognamiglio. The swift investigations of the Carabinieri led to a decisive turning point, culminating in the arrest of five people.
The restraining order, executed yesterday on charges of attempted murder, possession of a weapon, and firing shots in a public place, has reached Emanuele Russo, Michele Pio Estilio, Remigio D'Antonio, Giuseppe Colantuono, and Aniello Estilio. The five are believed to be the perpetrators and instigators of the bloody ambush that took place on April 27, in which Scognamiglio was seriously injured but miraculously escaped death.
The escalation of violence
The armed attack was not an isolated incident, but the culmination of an escalation that would see the group of Scognamiglio and the Estilio clan. Before the attempted murder, tension had already manifested itself in two violent episodes:
Claudio Scognamiglio's car fire was a clear warning of intimidation.
A quarrel between the two families over trivial matters related to the school environment, which in reality hid growing criminal animosity.
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The revealing detail
A crucial element that emerged from the investigation concerns one of those arrested, Michele Pio Estilio. Already subject to the obligation to sign at the judicial police station for a previous proceeding, Estilio had anomalously requested to sign at the Portici police station on Via Salute, rather than at the Carabinieri station in Ercolano.
The motive, which has only now emerged, is chilling: Estilio intended to avoid the Ercolano barracks because it was adjacent to the Scognamiglio family home. This detail underscores his awareness of the ongoing feud and his desire to avoid close encounters with his intended victim.
Michele Pio Estilio had already been arrested the previous May, when he was caught in possession of drugs and attempted to get rid of them by throwing them out of the window, further evidence of his involvement in the drug trafficking that triggered the war.
The Carabinieri operation interrupted the group's murderous plot and dealt a severe blow to their attempts to rein in the criminal underworld in Ercolano. The five arrested are now at the disposal of the judicial authorities.
Comments (1)
This situation is very complex and shows how crime is increasing in certain areas. The Carabinieri investigations were swift, but one must wonder whether this will be enough to stop the violence. It's alarming.