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Licciardi was arrested at Rome Ciampino airport (archive photo)
Photo: ALBERTO LINGRIA / REUTERS
The leader of a Mafia clan from Naples has been arrested in Italy.
Officials stopped Maria Licciardi from boarding a plane to Spain at Rome airport on Saturday, according to Italian media reports.
The authorities accuse Licciardi of extortion, stolen goods and manipulation of auctions.
The 70-year-old, also known as “La Piccoletta” because of her small body size, is the sister of the deceased clan leader Gennaro Licciardi.
The family is assigned to the Camorra.
The Licciardi clan is mainly active in the northern suburbs of Scampia and Secondigliano in Naples.
Maria Licciardi was released from prison at the end of 2009 after serving an eight-year prison term.
According to media reports, she then took over the leadership of the criminal machinations of her family again.
dab / AFP