ROME: Italian police conducted a major operation on Monday against one of the country’s most violent mafia groups, targeting 82 individuals suspected of drug trafficking and dealing in the southern region of Puglia.
The operation involved around 500 police officers who staged early morning raids against alleged members of the Foggia mafia, operating in and around the southeastern city of Foggia.
The Foggia mafia, known as Italy’s youngest mafia, has established a firm grip over the vast southeastern province of Foggia, using extortion and family-based “battalions” to control the local population. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi described the operation as a significant blow against one of the most dangerous and violent criminal organizations in the country.
Police issued warrants for the arrest of 81 suspects, with one person to be placed under house arrest. However, it remains unclear whether some of the suspects were already in custody. The investigation leading to the operation, known as “Game Over,” revealed that funds obtained through extorting the local population contributed to a “common fund” used to pay mafia associates and incarcerated members.
Foggia Mafia’s Monopoly in Italy
The Foggia mafia’s monopoly on the sale of cocaine in the region, enforced through threats of armed retaliation, generated profits of at least 200,000 euros ($222,000) per month for the criminal organization.
For years, crime in Foggia was overlooked by authorities who were primarily focused on combatting mafias in Sicily, Calabria, and around Naples. Referred to as the “Fourth Mafia,” this organized crime group has now garnered the attention of law enforcement, with recent efforts resulting in the arrest of some of its key leaders.
Foggia currently bears Italy’s third-highest homicide rate, reflecting the seriousness of the situation and the urgency to dismantle the criminal activities of the Foggia mafia.
