50 arrested over Camorra in Veneto

(ANSA) - Rome, February 19 - State and finance police on Tuesday were executing 50 arrest warrants related to a probe into alleged infiltration of Veneto's economic fabric by members of the Campania-based Camorra mafia, sources said. The arrests were made in Venice and Casal di Principe, near Caserta, as well as in other locations.
    The suspects are accused of mafia association, among other crimes.
    Among the arrests was a local mayor, Eraclea lawyer Mirco Mestre, the first Veneto citizen to be arrested on mafia charges.
    Mestre is accused of vote buying.
    "This operation has shown for the first time the presence of structured organised crime in Veneto territory, deeply penetrating the economic and banking sectors," said Venice Chief Prosecutor Bruno Cherchi.
    He said there had been mafia vote buying dating back to 2016.
    National Anti-mafia Prosecutor Ferdinando Cafiero De Raho said "the Camorra has taken over where the Brenta mafia left off," referring to a local criminal organisation that has been largely defeated.
    The Camorra group busted Tuesday had links to the Casalesi linked to the Bianco and Bidognetti clans whose boss Francesco is known as 'Midnight Fatty', police said.
    Meanwhile, five young people who allegedly set light to a dummy dressed up like a police officer and put up a banner saying State witnesses should be burned during a recent festival in the province of Naples were banned from living in the area of the incident.