Melito di Napoli – A bag propped up outside the front door. A simple, almost banal signal, yet loaded with criminal significance. This was the agreed-upon ruse to alert members of the Amato-Pagano clan that the house was "occupied" or, conversely, ready to host confidential summits away from prying eyes and wiretaps.
It is one of the most emblematic passages of the precautionary order signed by the investigating judge Isabella Iaselli which two weeks ago hit 11 members of the clan, revealing the role – considered anything but marginal – of the spouses Ida Somma and Pasquale Foria, accused of external competition in mafia association.
According to the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, the couple made a concrete, conscious, and ongoing contribution to the Camorra organization by making their apartment at Via Roma 188, Melito, available as a base for clan meetings, at least until December 17, 2024.
The clan's "safe house"
The property—formally leased to Ida Somma since March 2020—quickly became a fixture in the Amato-Pagano clan's criminal landscape. So much so that investigators placed it under continuous video surveillance starting March 27, 2024. The cameras revealed a constant coming and going of men believed to be affiliated with or connected to the clan, many of whom were already known to law enforcement.
The images nail the facts: Domenico Romano, believed to be the clan's regent, Raffaele Caso Carmine, Cosimo Marino, Carlo Calzone, Gaetano Pezzella, Maurizio Errichelli, Salvatore Ranucci Carlo, Luigi Diano, Francesco Rinaldi. The names are repeated, the presences overlap, the meetings follow one another with a regularity incompatible with simple friendly visits.
The pattern is always the same: scooters parked in the courtyard, staggered entries, quick exits. And above all, bags, plastic bags, and backpacks entering and leaving the apartment. Details that, for investigators, speak volumes.
The stock market signal
Making the home's purpose even more explicit is the purse code. The cameras document that when Ida Somma is home, a woman's purse is left outside the door. This is the signal for the members: they must wait. When the purse disappears, the house is "free."
What happened on April 26, 2024, is emblematic. Carmine Raffaele Caso arrives at the entrance, sees the bag, and stops. A few minutes later, Somma comes out, removes the sign, and Caso enters without hesitation. A tried-and-tested ritual, repeated over time, which, according to the judges, demonstrates full awareness and functional participation.
Meetings, business and "mesate"
Among the most significant meetings was the one on March 30, 2024, a full-scale clan meeting. First, they met at a bar, then at a grill, and then at a club. Finally, everyone converged at Via Roma 188. It was there, as revealed by a wiretap, that financial matters were also discussed.
At 13:17 PM, Arturo Vastarelli spoke to his wife and admitted, "I don't know when I'll bring the money; they're having a meeting." This was a direct reference to the "mesate," the sums allocated to support members and the families of inmates.
Contacts with Rinaldi, even from prison
Another key element is the close and constant relationship with Francesco Rinaldi, a key figure in the clan, arrested and detained in Poggioreale. Even from prison, Rinaldi remains in contact with the couple.
On August 21, 2024, Rinaldi's wife called Ida Somma because her husband couldn't speak to "Franco" and "Pasquale." Somma reassured her: "I'll let Pasquale know, I'll be the messenger." The next day, Foria called the inmate. She put him through to "Francuccio," who confessed: "I had to throw away the phone... I took the vials."
Allusive language, typical of criminal contexts, which investigators believe confirms a stable channel of communication, despite the detention.
A decisive contribution to the clan
The Prosecutor's Office is clear: these are not isolated incidents or simple aiding and abetting. The provision of the residence is constant, systematic, and organized. Foria, often out until the evening, leaves the apartment vacant for the entire day. The members have the keys to the gate and the residence. The meetings are held in a place deemed safe, where there is no fear of wiretaps.
A house, a bag, a silent signal. It was all it took to transform an apartment in Melito into one of the operational hubs of the Amato-Pagano clan.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
This article highlights a very complex and worrying situation. The details surrounding the sentry bag and the clan's dynamics are disturbing. I hope the authorities can clarify these issues to ensure the safety of the community.