Carabinieri police on Tuesday
arrested dozens of suspected members of a mafia clan operating
in the southern Puglia region in what they described as a
"deadly blow" to part of the local Sacra Corona Unita crime
syndicate.
The suspects, all alleged affiliates of the Di Cosola clan
operating in and around Bari, included a local businessman
engaged in the construction sector and several women who
allegedly managed the organization's accounts.
Investigators say the clan dominated various sectors of
the local economy including construction and gaming by allegedly
extracting a 'tax' of 100 euros per slot machine in the area
under its control.
It also purportedly dominated the local drugs market
through a parallel organization, with 250 episodes of dealing
documented during the course of investigations.
Assets worth millions of euros including properties,
vehicles, companies and financial products were also seized in
the operation.
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