Mafia raids
July 14, 2009
More than 100 police officers took part in the raids on Camorra clan properties, securing real estate, bank accounts, businesses and cars to the tune of 50 million euros ($69.7 million).
The authorities believe the businesses were being run through some 30 front men taking orders from high-profile Camorra bosses who are already in prison.
Many of those mob puppets, who are now being investigated by the police, are alleged to have been operating apparently legal businesses which actually masked money laundering and other criminal activities.
"We have dealt a serious blow to the Casalesi (crime family)," anti-mafia squad chief Maurizio Vallone told Sky TG24 news.
He said the clan was still sitting on an illegal fortune, but that a sizeable chunk of it had been removed.
Many of the assets seized on Tuesday belonged to mafia boss, Giuseppe Setola. He is considered by police to be a "psychotic killer" and is deemed one of the most dangerous mobsters in Italy.
He and those who work for him are alleged to have murdered 18 people, including eight Africans last September.
Tuesday's raids were the biggest for more than a decade.
tkw/dpa/AFP
Editor: Trinity Hartman