Two dozen arrested in anti-Camorra sweep

(ANSA) - Naples, June 27 - Police on Monday arrested 24 suspected members of the Lo Russo clan of the Neapolitan Camorra mafia operating in the northern neighborhoods of the city.
    The suspects are charged with mafia racketeering, drug trafficking, aggravated extortion of construction and other businesses, attempted murder and vehicular homicide.
    Police also seized three bakeries and said the Lo Russo clan held a monopoly in bread distribution, forcing supermarkets, shops and even Sunday street vendors to buy bread at clan prices.
    The Lo Russos also infiltrated Kuadra, a cleaning services contractor for hospitals and other public entities in Naples.
    That investigation led to the arrests of 12 suspects including clan members, Kuadra managers and public health officials earlier this month.
    Today's sweep struck a blow at the "armed wing" of the clan, which was responsible for "extortion sweeps" against scores of business owners and for bloody street raids against opponents on busy streets where civilians could get caught in the crossfire, Naples City Prosecutor Giovanni Colangelo said.