Naples – The veteran who didn't give up. The criminal history of Raffaele Paolo, known in the Secondigliano neighborhood as "o' Rockets," seemed to have ended with a sixteen-year sentence. However, on September 29, 2012, once he entered prison, the Di Lauro veteran refused to retire.
In just a few months, Paolo put the pieces of the puzzle back together, recruiting "old and new recruits" to create a new paranza. His group wasn't a loose cannon, but a "tolerated" entity: the Di Lauro clan's leaders, in fact, seeing no interference with their business, allowed this non-antagonistic faction to manage the lucrative cocaine and hashish market between Via dell'Arco, Piazza Zanardelli, and Via Vittorio Emanuele.
A non-aggression pact that transformed Secondigliano into a silent but frenetic logistics hub.
The Secondigliano-Arenaccia axis: a single block
The secret to "O' Rockets"'s success lay in its ability to forge strategic alliances. Its preferred supply channel was Rosario De Angelis, aka "O' Pipistrello," a drug lord in the Arenaccia/Vasto area. What began as a simple supplier-client relationship evolved into a cold fusion: two distinct drug dealing hubs operating as a single unit.
While Paolo coordinated the pushers and set prices in Secondigliano, De Angelis ensured a constant flow of drugs, creating a network that transcended the boundaries of individual neighborhoods.
The "Pirates" of the Via Emilia
The group's influence, however, didn't stop in the shadow of Vesuvius. Thanks to figures like Francesco Amelio, known as "o' Pirata," and Raffaele Guarracino, the organization had spread its tentacles as far as Emilia-Romagna. Magistrates documented an active "branch" in Reggio Emilia, led by Gennaro Giannone.
Despite pandemic restrictions, the clan's couriers never stopped, traveling hundreds of kilometers to deliver half-kilogram batches of cocaine. The monitored exchange at Bar Zeus is emblematic, where Giannone's wife physically handed over the wads of cash to the Neapolitan emissaries: €10.000 as a down payment for a supply, with the promise of paying the rest a few days later.
Life as an Affiliate: Between "Weeks" and Complaints
Behind the image of the criminal holding company, the investigation also reveals the domestic undercurrents and the financial difficulties of the clan's soldiers. Wiretaps reveal the concept of the "week," the fixed salary paid to members. In an almost surreal moment, a family "union dispute" emerges:
Nicola Vecchione is reprimanded by his wife, Immacolata De Angelis, for not demanding a raise from his brother-in-law (the boss Rosario). This dynamic grotesquely humanizes organized crime, portraying it as a grueling job, filled with shifts, dangers, and wages that wives now consider inadequate for the risks they face.
Precautionary measures: the outcome of the operation
The investigative effort, supported by shadowing, hidden cameras, and wiretapping (often using SIM cards registered to foreign citizens in an attempt to evade security), led to the seizure of over 6,5 kg of cocaine and the arrest of the gang's leaders and underlings.
Pre-trial detention in prison
AMELIO Francesco “o' pirata”Naples26.03.1972
AMARO Antonio “the barber” Naples 28.04.1981
DE ANGELIS Fabio-Napoli20.09.1990
DE ANGELIS Rosario “the bat” Naples 04.07.1988
DE ANGELIS Salvatore-Naples 27.11.1973
DE ANGELIS Stefania-Naples 10.05.1984
ESPOSITO Guglielmo - Naples 17.12.1985
FONZO GOMES Kevin Dani-Napoli 16.02.1994
GIANNONE Gennaro-Naples 19.08.1972
GUARRACINO Raffaele - Naples 31.08.1980
PAOLO Raffaele”o' Rockets”Naples02.11.1970
PERRINO Ciro-Naples 09.05.1980
OLD MAN Nicola - Naples 02.04.1985
House arrest
DE ANGELIS Immacolata, born in Naples on February 13, 1986
MURGIA Tamara, born in Naples on 12.04.1979
In short
The criminal history of Raffaele Paolo, known in the Secondigliano neighborhood as "o' Rockets", seemed to have ended with a sixteen-year sentence.
- Instead, on September 29, 2012, once he crossed the threshold of prison, the Di Lauro veteran did not choose…
- In just a few months, Paolo put the pieces of the puzzle back together, enlisting "old and new talent" to bring…
- A non-aggression pact that transformed Secondigliano into a silent but frenetic logistics hub.
Key questions
What is the main point of the news?
The criminal history of Raffaele Paolo, known in the Secondigliano neighborhood as "o' Rockets", seemed to have ended with a sixteen-year sentence.
Why is this news relevant?
Instead, on September 29, 2012, once he crossed the threshold of prison, the Di Lauro veteran did not choose…
Which detail helps us understand the case better?
In just a few months, Paolo put the pieces of the puzzle back together, enlisting "old and new talent" to create a new fishing fleet. His…
I read the article and it seems like a long, convoluted story, full of holes. It's not clear who all the roles are. O'Rockets seems to be constantly on the move, but the alliances seem to shift constantly. The investigations have taken on many names, but questions and obscure points still remain.