Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Backlash of the Brave
Despite the Mafia's ever-expanding reach, the war against it marches on. In August 2013,
authorities finally caught up with fugitive Sicilian mafioso Domenico Rancadore in suburb-
an London. On the run since 1993, the reputed head of the Cosa Nostra in Trabia had rein-
vented himself as a mild-mannered house husband by the name of Marc Skinner. In July
2013, the capture of 'ndrangheta boss Roberto Pannunzi in Bogota, Colombia, made the
news. Considered Europe's most wanted drug trafficker, the crime lord reputedly imported
two tons of cocaine from Colombia to Europe every month. In April 2013 Italian authorit-
ies made their biggest confiscation of Mafia assets in history, seizing assets worth €1.3 bil-
lion.
The assassination of Sicilian anti-Mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino
in 1992 sparked particularly intense anti-Mafia sentiment throughout Italy. In 1994, Paolo
Borsellino's sister Rita cofounded the group Libera ( www.libera.it ) , whose member organ-
isations were permitted to transform properties seized from the Mafia into agricultural co-
operatives, agriturismi (farm stay accommodation) and other legitimate enterprises.
Equally encouraging has been the establishment of Addiopizzo (www.addiopizzo.org), a
Sicilian organisation encouraging consumers to support businesses that have said 'no' to
Mafia extortion.
Arrested in 2009, Ugo Gabriele broke the mould like no other. Beefy and cunning, the then 27 year old
would go down in history as Italy's first cross-dressing mobster. In between managing prostitution and
drug rackets for Naples' Scissionisti clan, 'Kitty' found time to shape his eyebrows, dab on the lipstick and
dye his hair platinum blonde.
 
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