Nine Camorra mobsters arrested

(ANSA) - Caserta, September 4- Police flying squad officers arrested nine Camorra mobsters at dawn Friday on charges running an extensive extortion racket bilking thousands of euros from shopkeepers, bars and even drug dealers, police said.
    The nine belonged to the Bidognetti faction of the feared Casalesi clan of the Camorra operating in the Caserta area just north of Naples.
    Heads of the gang were identified as Gaetano Cerci, 50, and Dionigi pacifico, 53.
    The nine, based at the town of San Nicola la Strada on the outskirts of Caserta, demanded protection money of between 500 and 1000 euros from bars, mozzarella sellers and even drug dealers each Christmas, Easter and Ferragosto, police said.
    Three of the nine also were charged with stealing coats and the cash register from a well known fashion store in the centre of Caserta.
    The gang also ran a "credit collection" service that in one case was used by the manager of a betting shop to try and recover gambling debts run up by a soldier.