Nola - It is a significant success for Italian justice and a clear signal from the state in the fight against organized crime. On the orders of the Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) in Naples, the Carabinieri of Castello di Cisterna carried out a far-reaching operation targeting the structures of the notorious Russo clan. A total of 44 suspects were targeted by the judiciary, with 34 people being immediately remanded in prison and a further ten under house arrest. The charges are serious: they range from mafia association to illegal gambling and political influence.
Total control over the real estate market
The investigations, which focus on the period from 2022 to 2024, paint a picture of a criminal organization that had a firm grip on economic life in Nola and the surrounding communities. The real estate sector in particular served as a lucrative source of income for the clan. According to the investigators, the group controlled construction projects almost seamlessly.
The Camorra had a hand in the purchase of land, the awarding of building contracts and even the bureaucratic processing of permits. Municipal technicians, architects, building contractors and private developers were systematically blackmailed. Anyone who wanted to build or buy had to pay. The illegal profits generated in this way flowed directly into the clan's coffers and were used, among other things, to financially support the families of imprisoned members - a classic way of securing loyalty within the organization.
Illegal gambling and bought elections
In addition to the construction industry, the Russo clan had built up another mainstay: illegal gambling. In collaboration with representatives of the Licciardi clan, a network of unlicensed betting shops and manipulated online casinos was operated. The operators of these establishments were often asked to pay twice by forcing them to settle alleged debts from their illegal activities.
However, the findings regarding political influence are particularly alarming. The investigators accuse the suspects of actively manipulating the local elections in Cicciano in May 2023 and in Casamarciano in June 2022. Through so-called political bartering, the Camorra is said to have attempted to hoist candidates it liked into office in order to further consolidate its power base. As is customary in a constitutional state, the presumption of innocence applies to all defendants until a final conviction.
