Nearly hundred arrested in Italy anti-Mafia raids

Almost 100 people have been arrested in a pre-dawn anti-Mafia swoop across parts of Italy. Around 1,200 police officers were involved in the "Perseus" operation to crack down on those suspected of trying to rebuild the top ranks, or "cupola", of the Sicilian Mafia, which has been weakened by the recent arrests of powerful mob leaders. According to police reports, all the Mafia families in Palermo and its provinces have been taken to prison. Using helicopters and anti-drugs units, police raided addresses in Sicily and across parts of Lombardy and Tuscany amid charges of extortion, trafficking arms, drugs and having Mafia links. The suspects are alleged to have tried to recreate the top-level Cosa Nostra body responsible for taking important decisions, with the support of Matteo Messina Denaro, one of the most powerful godfathers on the run. Anti-Mafia prosecutor Pietro Grasso said: "If Cosa Nostra was on its knees after operation Gotha in June 2006, then with operation Perseus it has been prevented from getting up again." In recent years, Italian police have rounded up several high-profile Mafia members including the "boss of bosses" Bernardo Provenzano in 2006 and a year later, his heir apparent Salvatore Lo Piccolo. Young Sicilians have also been leading efforts to rally local business people into resisting payment of the "pizzo" or protection money that helps fund the Mafia's activities.

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ITN | December 16, 2008

Tags:. .predawn. .pizzo. .grasso. .sicilians. .antidrugs