It's not just about cement and waste. The investigation by the Naples Anti-Mafia Directorate, incorporated into the 600-page precautionary order by preliminary investigations judge Fabio Provvisier, reveals how the Zagaria clan has made a definitive leap in drug trafficking. At the center of this network is once again Carlo Bianco, assisted by his trusted "organizer," Pasquale Padulo.
The geographic leap is striking: the suppliers are no longer small local wholesalers, but the powerful Reggio Calabria criminal gang. Giuseppe and Pasquale Albano, originally from Rosarno and Taurianova, are identified as the regular suppliers of the cocaine that was flowing in torrents to the Caserta area. Shipments of at least two or three kilograms per month are reported, starting in October 2022.
The drugs were then distributed with military precision: Aldo Bianco and Antonio Gammardella ran the Vairano Patenora operation, while Biagio Ianuario and Rolando D'Angelo (the same master cheesemaker from previous episodes) handled unidentified but profitable operations. Even the logistics were meticulously planned: Massimo Natale, Padulo's associate, was in charge of storage and deliveries to Caivano.
Slot Machine Monopoly: "The Brand Is Carlo Bianco"
While the drugs flowed, the clan consolidated another monopoly: gambling. Through "Seven Slot Srls," formally managed by front men like Massimo Blotto and Francesco Cervicato, but effectively controlled by Giacomo Penna and Biagio Vallefuoco, the clan imposed its slot machines in bars and arcades.
The method? "Spending the name." Reluctant business owners didn't need to show their guns: they simply had to say that "Carlo Bianco" was interested in the business. That was enough to oust competing businesses, as happened with the Havana Club in Casal di Principe or the S. Eufemia bar in Carinaro. Unfair competition, fueled by the Camorra's intimidation, guaranteed the clan a steady, hard-to-trace flow of money.
The Mallardo raid and the assault on “La Delizia”
The order also documents dangerous connections between different clans. This is the case of the extortion at the "La Delizia" dairy in Varcaturo. This is where Pietro Tortorelli, a member of the Mallardo clan from Giugliano, comes into play.
The dynamics are brutal: the owner, Alfonso Diana, is strangled by a €160.000 usurious loan. To recover the money, Tortorelli sends his "debt collectors"—Umberto D'Aiello, Carmine Maisto, and Luigi Sarracino—to stake out the business for days. They don't just threaten: they seize the daily takings directly from the cash register and even demand the keys to the dairy, effectively ousting the owner. It's proof that usury isn't just about making money, it's about physically expropriating local businesses.
The ATM of Usury: The Boss's Last Dime
Finally, the investigation returns to the criminal underworld of Carmine Zagaria. Even a boss of his caliber, according to the charges, wasn't above engaging in the "small-time" business of loan sharking. Along with Carmine Iavarone, he allegedly lent money to Pasquale Carbone at rates comparable to pure usury: €1.200 in interest on a €5.000 principal sum, to be repaid in just 50 days. This money was used to replenish the "common fund" held by Alfonso Ottimo, the man who—as we've seen in previous episodes—served as a bridge between the slums of Casapesenna and the luxury of Dubai.
In short
The investigation by the Naples DDA, which was incorporated into the 600-page precautionary order by preliminary investigations judge Fabio Provvisier, reveals how the Zagaria clan made the definitive leap in drug trafficking.
- At the center of this network is once again Carlo Bianco, assisted by his trusted "organizer," Pasquale Padulo.
- The geographical leap is impressive: the suppliers are no longer small local wholesalers, but the powerful Reggio Calabria crime syndicate.
- Giuseppe and Pasquale Albano, originally from Rosarno and Taurianova, are identified as the stable suppliers of the cocaine that arrived in…
Key questions
What is the main point of the news?
The Naples DDA investigation, which was incorporated into the 600-page precautionary order by preliminary investigations judge Fabio Provvisier, reveals how the Zagaria clan made the leap in quality...
Why is this news relevant?
At the center of this network is once again Carlo Bianco, assisted by his trusted "organizer," Pasquale Padulo.
Which detail helps us understand the case better?
The geographical leap is impressive: the suppliers are no longer small local wholesalers, but the powerful Reggio Calabria crime syndicate.
Interesting article, but it's not just concrete, as you say. The issue of drug trafficking seems serious indeed. The suppliers appear to have changed, but the reconstruction is written with jumbled sentences and so many names mixed up that it's unclear. Let's hope the authorities do something.