Italian Mafia Fugitive Leonardo Gesualdo Arrested In Foggia After Four Years On The Run

IN THE early greeting hours of Tuesday, October 7, Leonardo Gesualdo, considered 1 of nan astir vulnerable fugitives successful Europe, was arrested successful Foggia, Italy. Gesualdo, a 39-year-old starring personnel of a mafia clan belonging to nan ‘Society of Foggia,’ arsenic it is known, has been actively wanted since 2020 aft he escaped a raid.

A awesome mafia boss, dragged retired of his bed

Gesualdo was arrested during nan hunt of a location connected nan outskirts of Foggia, successful bluish Apulia. The fugitive was recovered sleeping and offered nary guidance to nan Carabinieri, 1 of Italy’s main rule enforcement agencies which were carrying retired nan raid. During a hunt of nan home, a pistol was discovered pinch six cartridges successful its magazine. The pistol’s serial number had been revenge off.

The Carabinieri, successful collaboration pinch nan Foggia Provincial Command and nether nan coordination of nan Bari Anti-Mafia Directorate, had been carrying retired investigations successful nan past months. Prosecutor Roberto Rossi headed nan Directorate.

Italian Minister of Defence, Guido Crosetto, wrote, “Congratulations to nan Carabinieri and nan judiciary,” successful consequence to nan successful ambush connected X.

2020’s Operation Decimabis raid, successful which dozens of Foggia Society members were arrested and tried

Gesualdo had been connected nan tally since 2020 aft escaping nan Operation Decimabis raid, successful which astir 40 different members of nan clans that dress up nan Foggia Society were arrested. The Foggia Society, a mafia criminal organisation, controlled nan area’s economical activities by manipulating section merchants and businesspeople done convulsive means, including intimidation and subjugation. The arrested individuals spanned crossed 15 full Italian provinces and were accused of mafia conspiracy, outer complicity successful a mafia conspiracy, extortion, attempted extortion, usury, bid-rigging, and supplier trafficking, each aggravated charges. They were sentenced to a full of much than 110 years successful prison.

The Foggia Society: Spreading fearfulness done nan region

Influential figures successful nan Italian authorities and rule enforcement, including charismatic Antonio Laronga, person highlighted nan rising prominence of nan Foggia Society and nan expanding crime and panic related to nan gang. According to Laronga, nan pack classed conscionable down different notorious mafia gangs including nan Calabrian ’Ndrangheta, nan Sicilian Cosa Nostra and nan Neapolitan Camorra.

In 2017 and 2018, nan mafia pack was recovered to beryllium connected to 1 execution a week, 1 robbery a day, and an extortion effort each 48 hours successful nan Foggia province. The group has been recovered to beryllium responsible for much than 300 murders since its founding, a jaw-dropping number fixed that Foggia has a organization of astir 600,000 inhabitants. This showcases nan gang’s wide prominence and nan patient grip of fearfulness it has connected Foggia’s guiltless residents.

Despite its prominence and nan power it has complete nan Foggia region, nan pack is considered comparatively young compared to different mafia criminal organisations; only astir 35 years old. It is considered by galore to beryllium Italy’s “fifth mafia.”

Bombings, extorsions, and shootings: Foggia Society’s way of terror

Some of nan astir notorious instances of unit by members of nan Foggia Society see erstwhile nan pack near 2 members and 2 witnesses dormant from gunshot wounds successful 2017, fired from an AK-47 rifle. This lawsuit was reportedly owed to a vendetta. Two years later, 1 of its bosses was arrested successful San Bartolomé de Tirajana connected nan land of Gran Canaria, Spain. In 2020, nan pack was besides connected pinch aggregate bombings of a attraction location for susceptible aged group and various different bombing incidents. The group besides reportedly extorted €50 per coffin from section ceremonial homes.

Leonardo Gesualdo, on pinch his peers arrested successful nan 2020 raid, had antecedently been sentenced to 12 years successful situation for mafia association.

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