The State Police carried out a precautionary measure against 5 subjects of Agrigento, two of whom have already been convicted of mafia. The five are held responsible for a series of repeated conduct extortion and illicit competition with threats or violence, aggravated by the mafia method. Furthermore, they are accused of having facilitated the mafia association called Cosa Nostra.
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The investigations were conducted by the SCO, the SISCO of Palermo and the Mobile Teams of Agrigento and Palermo. These have allowed us to hypothesize the pervasive check and the illicit management of agro-pastoral activities on the Girgento area of Santa Margherita del Belice, Montevago and Sambuca di Sicilia up to the border with Contessa Entellina (PA).
Mafia in Agrigento: control of the land
The suspects would have implemented incisive control over the agro-pastoral economy of the area as well as the related use of agricultural funds in the Belicino hinterland. This making use of the undisputed intimidating force deriving from being recognized as top exponents of the mafia mandate of Santa Margherita di Belice.
There were several episodes in which the suspects, using the mafia method, forced the owners and managers of agricultural land to surrender the availability of large areas of land to be used for illegal grazing of livestock. They also imposed the payment of canons negligible amounts which, in some cases, would not even have been paid.
The control of agricultural land would also have resulted, on the part of the Agrigento mafia, in a prohibition to carry out collateral agricultural activities that would alter the free grazing of the flocks. In this way, they have effectively imposed a restriction dominance on other people’s real estate, also functional to maximizing profits deriving from dairy production.
The silent threats
The absence of was also recorded threats explicit, the suspects being able to impose their will by resorting to silent intimidating attitudes. Thanks to the ability to subjugation resulting from their recognized criminal role as well as the multiple episodes of damage. Among these, fires, cutting of crops and theft of livestock suffered over the years by owners who had decided to use the land for cultivation. This is because it would have limited the grazing of flocks.
The investigations also made use of the declarative contribution of some victims who opposed the “control system” of the Agrigento mafia. In some episodes, following the threshing operated by the owners, the foodstuffs would have been unduly acquired and packaged by the suspects, without paying any compensation.
The depth of the subjects involved in the investigations also highlighted moments of voltage internal to the Agrigento mafia, linked to the attempt to alter the balance of the “cartel” itself. Contrasts always resolved in a logic of convenience and reciprocal protection of territorial control mechanisms.
Today’s provision, issued by the investigating judge of Palermo, is based on serious indications of guilt and on a circumstantial framework that emerged during the investigations.
