This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/13/mafia-top-boss-family-members-arrested-sicily
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Mafia top boss's family members arrested in Sicily | Mafia top boss's family members arrested in Sicily |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Close family members of the Sicilian mafia's fugitive "boss of bosses" have been arrested in what police have called one of the most significant anti-crime operations in Sicily in years. | Close family members of the Sicilian mafia's fugitive "boss of bosses" have been arrested in what police have called one of the most significant anti-crime operations in Sicily in years. |
Police hunting Matteo Messina Denaro, who took over the reins of Sicily's Cosa Nostra as a fugitive after his predecessors were nabbed in recent years, arrested his sister, his nephew and two cousins on Friday. | Police hunting Matteo Messina Denaro, who took over the reins of Sicily's Cosa Nostra as a fugitive after his predecessors were nabbed in recent years, arrested his sister, his nephew and two cousins on Friday. |
In total, police said, 30 people were arrested around Trapani in the west of the Italian island in a major operation that they called a "hard blow" to the mafia leadership surrounding the fugitive boss. | |
Messina Denaro, 50, was once known as the "playboy boss" because he liked fast cars, women and gold watches. He has been on the run since 1993. | Messina Denaro, 50, was once known as the "playboy boss" because he liked fast cars, women and gold watches. He has been on the run since 1993. |
He has been running the crime group since the arrest in 2006 of Bernardo Provenzano after nearly four decades as a fugitive. | He has been running the crime group since the arrest in 2006 of Bernardo Provenzano after nearly four decades as a fugitive. |
Police said they believed Messina Denaro's 43-year-old sister Patrizia and other arrested family members maintained contact with the boss and helped him run the crime syndicate. | Police said they believed Messina Denaro's 43-year-old sister Patrizia and other arrested family members maintained contact with the boss and helped him run the crime syndicate. |
The arrested were accused of belonging to a criminal group and of extortion related to the control of a number of construction companies in Sicily. | The arrested were accused of belonging to a criminal group and of extortion related to the control of a number of construction companies in Sicily. |
They also said they confiscated some €5m (£4.22m) worth of property believed to belong to the missing crime boss and his family. | They also said they confiscated some €5m (£4.22m) worth of property believed to belong to the missing crime boss and his family. |
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
Previous version
1
Next version