Italian police on
Wednesday arrested 16 in a sting against the Crea clan of the
'Ndrangheta mafia, a gang based in the town of Rizziconi that is
part of the powerful Calabrian organized crime group.
The arrests included the clan's alleged crime boss and
patriarch, Teodoro Crea, 65, as well as Crea's wife, children
and daughter-in-law.
One of Teodoro Crea's sons, Giuseppe, 36, remains a
fugitive.
Three former Rizziconi city councilors were among those
stopped by police.
Police also seized assets worth an estimated five million
euros, including villas, land and bank accounts.
Investigators are probing accusations of pressure against
the public administration, extortion, corruption in public bids,
and fraud against the European Union.
Ex-mayor Antonino Bartuccio - elected March 2010 on a civic
list - has played a "fundamental" role in the probe,
collaborating with police and reporting irregularities from the
beginning of his term.
In April 2011, the mayor and his nine councilors resigned
over the extent of clan infiltration in the city administration
and interference in municipal affairs, allegedly to facilitate
the Crea clan's illegal interests.
Threats and intimidation ultimately led to the resignations
and dissolution of the administration.
The municipality of Rizziconi, located east of the major
southern port of Gioia Tauro, has a long history of 'Ndrangheta
mafia influence and control.
The municipal administration was also dissolved in 1995 and
2000.
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