Operation against the Tortorici mafia clan, in the Nebrodi area of Messina.
The Carabinieri of the ROS and the Carabinieri Command for Agri-food Protection, the financiers of the Provincial Command and the staff of the Flying Squad of the Messina Police Headquarters are carrying out a precautionary custody order against 37 people.
They are accused, in various capacities, by the district attorney of mafia association, association dedicated to drug dealing, extortion, fraudulent transfer of values, aggravated fraud to obtain competitive public funds, money laundering and self-laundering, use of money, goods or benefits of illicit origin, embezzlement of public funds, ideological falsehood committed by a public official and attempted private violence.
The investigations revealed once again the role of the Tortorici mafia family, led by the Bontempo Scavos and the Batanesi, and the fraudulent receipt of huge contributions paid by the European Community through a very high number of scams.
The investigating judge ordered 23 arrests, 3 of which were under house arrest and 14 were interdicted for the suspension of business activities.
There are a total of 37 suspects. Furthermore, the equivalent of 750 thousand euros were seized in reference to 349 Agea securities, defined as "toxic".
Sums that would derive from aggravated fraud to obtain public funds, concerning the agricultural campaigns between 2015 and 2020. The investigation also made use of the declarations of three collaborators of justice, who were part of the Batanesi mafia group.
The Tortorici "family", composed of the Bontempo Scavo and Batanesi groups, once again concentrated their illicit activity on extortion and aggravated fraud in agriculture to the detriment of the European Union and Agea.
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