Naples, drugs from Spain: 70 years in prison for the Cerullo-Maiorano gang

The first-instance trial, conducted under the abbreviated procedure before investigating judge Ciollaro of the Naples court, ended with a heavy blow for the criminal organization. Twelve convictions were handed down, totaling more than seventy years of imprisonment, with only one acquittal.

At the heart of the investigation is the lucrative business of importing narcotics from Spain, destined to flood the drug dealing hubs of Naples and the Phlegraean Fields hinterland. The prosecutor's case, which at the end of September had requested convictions for all thirteen defendants, has held up almost entirely.

The genesis of the investigation: the "tip-off" from Barcelona

The entire operation was launched thanks to a timely tip-off from Barcelona's Guardia Civil, which noted the constant and suspicious presence of a group of Neapolitans in the Catalan city. Names like the two Maioranos, Di Palma, Sarracino, and Cerullo quickly ended up in the investigators' notebooks.

Subsequent investigations, conducted by the Guardia di Finanza's PEF unit, allowed them to reconstruct the traffickers' complex logistics. Their modus operandi was well-established: the couriers departed from Naples by car, reached Civitavecchia, and boarded high-speed ships bound for Barcelona.

The modus operandi: vans, double bottoms and relays

Once the drugs were loaded in Spain, the return journey took place aboard a specially modified Iveco van, equipped with a false bottom to conceal the drugs. To evade checks along the highway, the van was systematically preceded by another vehicle that acted as a relay, tasked with promptly signaling the presence of law enforcement.

The crimes charged to the suspects, depending on their positions, ranged from criminal conspiracy to traffic drugs to possession for the purpose of dealing. The conspiracy charge, which carries the most severe penalties, was brought against Giovanni Cerullo, Salvatore Di Palma, Giovanni Maiorano, Vincenzo Maiorano, and Pasquale Vallefuoco.

The first-instance ruling thus marks a point in favor of law enforcement in the fight against international drug trafficking that fuels the Campania market.

The most severe sentences, particularly 10 years in prison, were handed down to those deemed to be at the top or in positions of greater responsibility within the organization, as they were accused of the crime of criminal conspiracy aimed at drug trafficking.

Giovanni Cerullo: The Prosecutor's Office had originally requested a 16-year sentence for Cerullo, identifying him as a leader of the group. The 10-year sentence confirms his position as a prominent figure.

Giovanni Maiorano and Vincenzo Maiorano: The two Maioranos were among the names circulating immediately after the Barcelona Guardia Civil's report, highlighting their central role in organizing the trips and contacts in Spain. Both were sentenced to 10 years.

Pasquale Vallefuoco: Also accused of being part of the organization, he received a 10-year sentence.

Salvatore Di Palma: Sentenced to 8 years. His sentence, though severe, was calculated as a "continuation of another sentence," which suggests a significant criminal record, perhaps also related to drug trafficking, which influenced the calculation of his total sentence.

The other defendants held logistical and support roles, such as couriers, transport organizers, or simply drug dealers, even within the criminal organization:

Castrese Sarracino (5 years and 6 months): He was among the names known to investigators from the beginning, presumably playing a key role in the operational phases of the transport.

Ciro Di Lanno and Alfredo Felaco (5 years and 4 months): Intermediate sentences that reflect important but not top-level roles in the trafficking organization.

Stefano Verde (4 years): His shorter sentence compared to the 5-year group could indicate a less serious role or the prevalence of the sole charge of possession with intent to deal.

The lowest sentences (2 years) for Maurizio Cappiello Branco, Antonino Lauro and Castrese Simeoli are typical of figures with marginal involvement or limited to only possession and dealing on site, without the aggravating circumstance of an associative role.

Traffic details

The investigation allowed the reconstruction of trafficking involving hundreds of kilograms of drugs. For example, one of the operations cited in another similar investigation (often related or subsequent) reports the seizure of over 290 kg of hashish, with the reconstruction of the importation of an additional 70 kg. These data highlight the scale of the business managed.

Detailed List of Convictions

Giovanni Maiorano 10 years old

Vincenzo Maiorano 10 years old

Pasquale Vallefuoco 10 years

Giovanni Cerullo 10 years old

Salvatore Di Palma 8 years old

Castrese Sarracino 5 years and 6 months

Ciro Di Lanno 5 years and 4 months

Alfredo Felaco 5 years and 4 months

Stefano Verde 4 years old

Maurizio Cappiello Branco 2 years

Antonino Lauro 2 years

Castrese Simeoli 2 years

Domenico Della Rotonda Acquitted