A massive operation by the Carabinieri Provincial Command of Palermo has dealt a severe blow to Cosa Nostra’s operations in the Sicilian capital. Law enforcement authorities detained 22 individuals suspected of driving a violent escalation of criminal activity in recent months. Coordinated by the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) under Chief Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia, the raid saw seven suspects formally jailed. Investigators identify them as the orchestrators and perpetrators of a wave of bombings and intimidation tactics that have plagued the Tommaso Natale and San Lorenzo districts since November 2025.
Heavy charges have been leveled against the suspects. Nine individuals face counts of extortion, attempted extortion, and the illegal possession of military-grade weapons, all compounded by the mafia association aggravating factor. Alongside the extortion racket, police dismantled a secondary criminal network of six people accused of running a high-volume narcotics operation—trafficking cocaine, hashish, and marijuana through the San Lorenzo and Zen 2 neighborhoods. Authorities note the clan had a vast arsenal of firearms at its immediate disposal.
This sweeping crackdown is the direct continuation of a complex investigation that already saw eight initial arrests in June for attempted murder, property damage, and extortion. The latest round of warrants also targeted seven individuals currently serving time, demonstrating the state's unrelenting pressure on the local crime families.