Adaptation of the Mafia: Extortion, Drug Trafficking, and Online Betting

Last Tuesday's operation led to the arrest of 181 members of Cosa Nostra, including key figures such as entrepreneur Angelo Barone, known for his role in the online betting business. The investigation, which began in 2023, has uncovered a network of extortions, drug trafficking, and illegal betting, showing how the mafia has adapted to modern times while maintaining a firm grip on the Palermo territory. The operation, coordinated by the Palermo District Anti-Mafia Directorate, has revealed a criminal system that, while maintaining traditional roots, has evolved to exploit new economic opportunities.

Extortion: An Evolving System The investigation has revealed about fifty cases of consummated and attempted extortion against commercial operators. What emerges is an evolving system of extortion: no longer just threats and intimidation, but a more "conciliatory" approach. Alfonso Di Cara, a pizzo collector from Porta Nuova, has become a pioneer of this new method, offering merchants the option to pay protection money in installments or with regular invoices. This change reflects a mafia that seeks to avoid the attention of the authorities while still maintaining economic control over the territory. Wiretaps describe a system where merchants, though harassed, seem almost resigned to paying, sometimes even requesting favors from the bosses to resolve commercial disputes, like the owner of a beach resort in Barcarello who asked the mafia to intervene in a boundary dispute with a competitor.

A Return to Drug Trafficking Drug trafficking remains one of the main sources of income for Cosa Nostra. Bosses, from Tommaso Natale to Porta Nuova, have re-established contacts with the national distribution network, imposing their drugs on local distribution networks. This return to drug trafficking marks an economic turning point for the organization, although some historical members distance themselves from these dealings. Gino Mineo, a boss from Bagheria, has stated he does not want to "get dirty" with such activities, but his words remain isolated. Prosecutors from the Anti-Mafia Directorate have highlighted how the clan leaders have accumulated capital through thorough control of the city market, imposing their drugs or a percentage on local distribution networks. Drugs are quickly filling the mafia's coffers, despite the resistance of some old-school "men of honor."

Online Betting: The Mafia's New Business One of the most significant aspects of the investigation is the role of online betting in funding Cosa Nostra. Angelo Barone, considered one of the "kings" of online betting, is accused of managing a network of illegal sites that evaded taxation. Barone, close to the Carlini mafia family, organized the syndicate's interests in the online gambling sector, making millions. Wiretaps reveal that Barone, known by the nickname "Bear," has brought Cosa Nostra from the era of street standoffs to digital business. Barone even met with Carlini boss Giuseppe Lo Duca to discuss online betting business matters. Palermo prosecutors accuse Barone of mafia association, alleging that he played a key role in organizing the syndicate's interests in the online gambling sector, being at the top of the organizational pyramid of the distribution and management of illegal betting sites.

The Unity of the Mafia and the Multimillion-Dollar Business The operation also highlighted the importance of internal unity for Cosa Nostra. Wiretaps show how mafia bosses try to avoid internal conflicts to maintain control over lucrative businesses. The online betting business is described as one of the most profitable for the organization, with earnings exceeding fifteen million euros. Barone, through the imposition of illegal gaming panels, has made enormous profits, demonstrating how the mafia has adapted to new technologies. Wiretaps also reveal a system of encrypted communication, used to avoid investigations by the authorities. Barone, described by investigators as "the entrepreneur who navigated Cosa Nostra from the age of mafia to the lucrative business of games and telematic betting," represents an example of how the mafia has managed to evolve to exploit new economic opportunities.

A Mafia in Evolution The massive blitz by the Carabinieri in Palermo has unveiled a mafia in constant evolution, capable of adapting to economic and technological changes. From "conciliatory" extortions to drug trafficking and online betting, Cosa Nostra proves to be still a powerful and dangerous organization. The arrest of 181 mafia members represents a significant blow, but the fight against the mafia requires constant vigilance and an equally adaptable response from law enforcement. The mafia, while changing its face, continues to pose a threat to society and the economy, demonstrating an adaptability that requires a dynamic response from institutions.