Mondragone – Shooting a Carabinieri station as a demonstration of loyalty to the clan. This is one of the most disturbing incidents to emerge from the investigation that led to the arrest of 21 alleged members of the Gagliardi clan, a Camorra organization operating in Mondragone and surrounding towns, believed to be the direct descendants of the historic La Torre clan, linked to the Casalesi.
The operation was carried out by Carabinieri officers from the Caserta Provincial Command, coordinated by the Naples District Anti-Mafia Directorate, led by Prosecutor Nicola Gratteri, assisted by Deputy Prosecutor Michele Del Prete. The charges range from mafia association and drug dealing to extortion, threats, and violence.
The affiliation rite and the “pricking”
To join the clan, dealing or intimidating wasn't enough. Aspiring members had to undergo the "pricking" ritual: a cut on the finger to draw blood, a ceremony typical of the Sicilian mafia and the 'Ndrangheta. This, according to investigators, confirms the dangerous nature and closed structure of the group.
"It's an organization that closely resembles the 'Ndrangheta," Gratteri explained at a press conference, "both in terms of its membership rituals and its constant links to prison, where the boss is held."
The prisoner boss who commanded from prison
Angelo Gagliardi, a former member of the La Torre clan, is said to have led the clan, even from behind bars. From prison, the boss continued to issue orders and manage the extortion operations: according to the reconstruction, he participated via video call in the intimidation of businessmen who refused to pay the protection money, witnessing the threats and beatings.
He was always the one who decided when to stop the thugs, confirming his total control over the criminal organization.
The attempted attack on the barracks
Among the incidents documented by investigators is an attempted armed attack on a Carabinieri barracks. This thwarted demonstration would have served as proof of the clan's criminal credibility and a means of asserting its power over the area.
Drugs, extortion and the "delivery" of drug dealing
The heart of the Gagliardi clan's business, however, remained drug trafficking. Cocaine, crack, and hashish were distributed through a widespread network of dealers, with thousands of sales documented during the investigations launched in September 2023.
Drug dealing also took place through a full-fledged home delivery service: a fleet of scooters allowed the dealers to quickly reach customers, replicating a criminal delivery system. Individuals outside the clan allegedly participated in the operation.
Weapons and seizures
During the investigation, the Carabinieri seized approximately 1,1 kilos of cocaine, half a kilo of hashish, and two 7,65 caliber Beretta pistols, complete with magazines and ammunition: a Beretta and a Beretta model 84 with 36 rounds of ammunition.
Drugs “protected” with false love
Among the more unusual incidents to emerge from the investigation was the failed attempt to protect a seized drug shipment by using a woman, posing as a Carabinieri officer's lover, in an attempt to throw off the controls.
The rebellious son and the order to return the drugs
Finally, the investigation shed light on an incident within the criminal world: a drug dealer had attempted to steal drugs from the clan. His father, a former collaborator with the justice system, intervened. Upon learning the identity of the group in command, he demanded that his son immediately return the drugs.
A sign, according to investigators, of the intimidating power of the Gagliardi clan, capable of instilling fear even in those who had already chosen to break with the Camorra.
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
Comments (1)
The article discusses a very serious situation in Mondragone and how the Gagliardi clan is involved in violent acts and drug trafficking. It's worrying to see how young people join these groups without considering the consequences.