Anti-Mafia Section in Verona, the request of the mayors of Verona to the Government

Yesterday, Friday 19 April 2024, in the Tapestry Room of the Municipality of Verona, the 98 first citizens of the province signed a letter to ask the Government to open a section of the District Anti-Mafia Directorate and the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate in the capital. The growing presence of the ‘ndrangheta and the results of the “Taurus” and “Isola Scaligera” investigative operations highlight the urgent need to establish a constant safeguard of legality in the territory.

Anti-Mafia Section in Verona, the request of the mayors of Verona to the Government

The fight against organized crime in Verona has reached a new phase, with a unanimous request from all the mayors of the area. This request, addressed to the Government on the initiative of the Municipality of Verona, was promoted by the mayor and the councilor for Security and Legality together with Public Notice.

The letter, signed by the 98 mayors of Veronarequests the assignment at the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Verona of a magistrate from the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) of Venice and the creation of an operational section of the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate.

The President of the Justice Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, speaking during the presentation of this initiative, yesterday 19 April 2024 in the Sala Arazzi in Verona, confirmed his commitment to promoting the legislative path.

The mayors underlined that respect for the rule of law is not a political option, but a universal right of citizens. This principle goes beyond political affiliations and requires a concrete commitment from anyone responsible for leading a community.

Verona second province in Veneto

This initiative is particularly crucial for Verona and its province, an area rich in business, infrastructure and important events, which unfortunately also attracts the attention of organized crime.

The fight against the mafia requires unity, but also adequate tools. The mayors therefore ask to establish an operational section of the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate in Verona and seconding a magistrate from the DDA of Venice to the local Public Prosecutor’s Office. This need has been underlined for years and confirmed by the reports of the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate.

The mayors’ request, supported by the Administration and by Public Notice, aims to obtain a concrete response from the Government. This joint commitment demonstrates the determination to promote the culture of legality and to combat all forms of organized crime.

The reports of the Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate indicate Verona as an area where various criminal organizations operate, not only the Calabrian mafia but also others, both Italian and foreign. These are involved in money laundering in the local economy, drug trafficking and the exploitation of people for illegal purposes.

Local authorities have adopted various measures to combat this phenomenon. Between 2022 and January 2024, the Prefecture of Verona issued 22 anti-mafia interdictionswhile the Financial Information Unit of the Bank of Italy has reported 1,972 financial transactions suspected in 2023, placing the province of Verona in second place in Veneto for this type of activity.

Mayor Tommasi: “Counteract those who want to do illicit business by exploiting Verona”

The mayor of Verona Tommasi expressed yesterday during the meeting the need to combat organized crime in the area, highlighting the risks linked to future infrastructure projects and international events.

“This need arises from factual data which unfortunately have been highlighted by recent investigative operations and which have confirmed the presence of organized crime in our territory – said the mayor of Verona -. And it is easy to imagine that the interest of organized crime will increase in the coming months with the start of huge infrastructure works and major international events linked to investments that attract unsavory and often unrecognizable appetites. Thanks to the support of Notice Publico in recent months we have tried to raise the bar of attention and sensitivity by creating institutional antibodies that must all be on the same side, and we are demonstrating that we have no doubts about this.”

The mayor hopes that this initiative, also supported by the presence at government level, can obtain the necessary recognition to combat economic illegality and fully exploit the potential of Verona.

“I really hope that this initiative can lead, thanks also to our territorial presence in the Roman institutions and at government level, to obtaining this recognition. A result that would allow us to concretely combat those who want business in an illicit manner by exploiting the fertile ground that Verona offers in terms of attendance, works and major works. The need for the presence of a specific and strengthened investigative control in our province has been felt for some time, as also attested by the motion voted by the City Council of the Municipality of Verona on 30 August 2017 by all political forces. , including the current President of the Justice Commission of the Chamber of Deputies, and resumed by the current Veronese City Council on 26 October 2022.

I thank everyone for their presence, individually we will not have the strength that we have united” concluded the mayor, who recalled how the initiative finds unanimity of consensus among the institutions and law enforcement agencies who constantly discuss the issues of safety and legality in the Provincial Committee for Security and Public Order.

The councilor for Security, Transparency and Legality, Stefania Zivelonghi, underlined the rooting of organized crime throughout the territory:

“The recent Taurus and Isola Scaligera investigations have, as is known, attested to the rooting (not infiltration) of organized crime in the Verona area – states the councilor for Security, Transparency and Legality -. The phenomenon, in addition to being widespread, appears to be of high quality, such as to be able to significantly permeate some sectors of the economy and easily approach both politics and important decision-making centers in the area.

As well underlined on several occasions by the Prosecutor, it is essential that the nerve center of the investigations is fueled and starts from Verona, and not from Venicewhose geographical remoteness does not allow us to effectively grasp the signals and dynamics of our territories, nor does it allow the right reaction times to such signals”.

The President of the Justice Commission of the Chamber of Deputies intervened by recalling the commitment required of the Government to establish a detached section of the Venice Court of Appeal in Verona. Commitment contained in a resolution approved last May by the Commission he chairs which deals with justice.

“The presence in the area of ​​an operational section of the DIA and the secondment to the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Verona of a magistrate from the District Anti-Mafia Directorate (DDA) of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Venice court would strengthen the work and actions against the crime and would strengthen the measures already in place – said the President of the Commission -. However, first we need to bring the Court of Appeal to Verona, a proposal already filed and included in the geography of the justice reform”.