A daring 20-kilo cocaine bust has shaken the balance between the Camorra and the 'Ndrangheta, revealing growing tensions between the criminal groups. This incident has led to in-depth investigations and precautionary measures against several suspects.
- What happened: A drug robbery in Casavatore in 2023.
- Because it is important: It has strained relations between the Camorra and the 'Ndrangheta.
- What happens now: The 'Ndrangheta has placed a €120 bounty on the alleged instigator.
- Useful detail: The investigation involved collaborators of justice to clarify the dynamics of the crime.
Naples – A robbery involving a 20-kilogram shipment of cocaine that, according to investigators, wasn't just a street robbery, but an act capable of undermining the pacts and hierarchies between Campania and Calabria.
This is the axis that runs through the operation of the Carabinieri of the Naples Investigative Unit, coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate, culminating in a precautionary prison measure issued by the Naples investigating judge.
At the centre of the investigation is the theft of a shipment of drugs destined for a Camorra group and transported by Calabrian couriers: an episode which, according to the reconstruction, would have triggered the reaction of the 'ndrangheta, up to a reward of
120 thousand euros on the perpetrator of the "sgarro" and on punitive plans that could have affected the family.
The robbery: 20 kilos of cocaine and the ambush in Casavatore
Investigators place the armed robbery in April 2023, in Casavatore. The victims were two Calabrian couriers tasked with transporting 20 kilos of cocaine. The prosecution believes that the shipment was destined for a third Camorra gang, the Amato-Paganos.
It's the detail that gives the context: the game isn't just about the immediate availability of drugs, but also the supply channels, criminal "credibility," and the balance between groups. In this scenario, the action is attributed to individuals considered internal to the Vanella (or Vinella) Grassi clan.
The alleged instigator and the Calabrian response: the bounty
According to reports, the robbery was commissioned by Simone Bartiromo, who was arrested in July 2025 and detained in Tolmezzo (Udine). Investigators report that the Calabrian Nirta-Strangio clan has placed a €120 reward on Bartiromo's life.
In this type of dynamic, the bounty is a message even before being a financial incentive: it signals that the offense is not "absorbed" as a business loss, but treated as an affront to be punished, to restore order and discourage new similar initiatives.
The Red Line: The Wife Kidnapping Hypothesis
The investigations by the Naples Carabinieri also revealed an even more serious aspect: the 'Ndrangheta apparently considered targeting Bartiromo through his wife, considering kidnapping her as a form of retaliation.
At a press conference, Naples prosecutor Nicola Gratteri expressed concern about potential violent developments, emphasizing that the judicial authorities are familiar with the 'Ndrangheta's tactics and reporting that the mastermind behind the robbery has been asked whether he intends to seek protection.
In addition to the specific crimes (robbery, drugs, and weapons, all of which are aggravated by mafia-related charges), the criminal charges also include mafia-related charges: some of the suspects are charged with mafia-related crimes.
The dispute describes the Vanella (or Vinella) Grassi clan as a Camorra branch born from a split from the Amato-Pagano area, with its own organizational and operational capacity in the territory.
According to the documents, the association has forged alliances and conflicts with other Camorra groups over the years. Furthermore, individuals identified as chief promoters and top figures (including Salvatore Petriccione, known as Totore 'o marenaro, and other names cited in the document) are named in other judicial proceedings as holding leading roles, as well as other unidentified individuals.
Investigations between 2024 and 2025: Techniques and Collaborators
The investigative work, conducted between 2024 and 2025, is described as complex and detailed, with targeted technical activities and follow-up. Collaborating witnesses were also interviewed, who reportedly helped establish the exact location of the event, clarify its motivations, and identify the organizers and perpetrators.
THE 10 INVESTIGATED
Gaetano Angrisano, born in Naples on February 1, 1992
Simone Bartiromo, born in Naples on June 12, 1991
Antonio Coppola, born in Naples on June 13, 1992, known as “Mille Lire”
Giuseppe Corcione, born in Naples on June 8, 1984, known as “Ciccio 'o butcellaro / Ciccio 'o chiattone”
Fabio Iazzetta, born in Naples on July 27, 1992, known as “Fabio Chirichella / 'o nano”
Luigi Rosas, born in Mugnano di Napoli on July 3, 1990, known as “Gino 'o Zuppone / 'o Zeppone”
Ciro Russo, born in Naples on May 13, 2002, known as “Felicione”
Sebastiano Romeo, born in Locri (RC) on March 17, 1997
Giovanni Nirta, born in Locri (RC) on November 10, 1997
Andrea Giuliani, born in Rome on March 8, 1975
Source EDITORIAL TEAM
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