Scampia feud
Encyclopedia
The Scampia feud was a feud
between the Camorra
gangs in the neapolitan
quartiere
of Scampia
and it broke out in 2004 and 2005. The fight was between the Di Lauro clan
, from Secondigliano
, and the so-called "secessionists
" (Italian "scissionisti"), a breakaway faction from the once all-powerful Di Lauro clan in the northern suburbs of Naples that tried to assert its control over drugs and prostitution rackets in the area.
Paolo Di Lauro
, head of the Camorra clan that runs the northern suburbs, was in charge of a tightly managed drug empire that imported cocaine and heroin and distributed it through an army of dealers. Di Lauro granted neighborhood ringleaders a certain amount of autonomy in exchange for the monopoly and cuts of the proceeds. He went into hiding in 2002 as authorities closed in. He left the business to Vincenzo Di Lauro, one of his ten sons. After the arrest of Vincenzo in 2004, Cosimo Di Lauro
took charge.
Cosimo Di Lauro wanted to centralize the drug-dealing operation that had been run as a franchise in which dealers paid the Di Lauros a fee for doing business and were allowed to buy the drugs from any available source. The young Di Lauro removed older gangsters and replaced them with young toughs new to the business. In revolt, a faction now known as the "secessionists" challenged the Di Lauros in October 2004. One of the local dealers, Raffaele Amato
, disputed the new rules, fled to Spain and organized a revolt against his former bosses. In Scampia, they are known as the Spaniards. Di Lauro responded by ordering the killing of two rebel associates, Fulvio Montanino and Claudio Salerno on October 28, 2004. During their funeral three days later, police arrested two men armed with machine guns who were planning to spray the funeral procession. The two bands fought each other with a brutality that stunned even hardened Carabinieri.
Italy realised the feud had got out of hand with the death of Gelsomina Verde
. The girl, recently turned 22, was abducted and brutally beaten, probably in an effort to get her to disclose the whereabouts of
her former boyfriend, Gennaro Notturno, a Scissionisti clan member. The two had broken up weeks prior to her abduction. She was shot three times in the neck and her body put in a car that was set on fire.
The death of an innocent girl caused widespread public revulsion and led to a major crackdown by the authorities. The governor of the Campania region (of which Naples is the capital) Antonio Bassolino
said: "This challenge must be met and the state must pay attention." Two days later, Home Secretary Giuseppe Pisanu
dispatched 325 extra police to a city that already had a higher ratio of police to people than any other in the country. On December 7, 2004, an operation involving 1,500 police netted 52 suspected gangsters including Ciro Di Lauro.
His brother Cosimo Di Lauro
was arrested in January 2005 and the head of one of the rival gangs, Raffaele Amato
, a month later. On September 16, 2005, police arrested Paolo Di Lauro
in a modest apartment in Secondigliano, on the city's poor and depressing northern outskirts. He was sentenced to 30 years for drug trafficking. Two weeks later Paulo Di Lauro publicly kissed Vincenzo Pariante – one of the bosses of the "secessionists" – during a session in court. Investigators interpreted the gesture as a sign that the feud had ended.
Murders continued well into 2008: Ciro Fabbrocino and Ciro Fontanarosa (March 22), the Girardi brothers (June 2), Lucio De Lucia in 2007... Vincenzo Licciardi
, the reputed head of the so-called Secondigliano Alliance
was arrested in February 2008. He had been on Italy's most wanted list since 2004.
Feud
A feud , referred to in more extreme cases as a blood feud, vendetta, faida, or private war, is a long-running argument or fight between parties—often groups of people, especially families or clans. Feuds begin because one party perceives itself to have been attacked, insulted or wronged by another...
between the Camorra
Camorra
The Camorra is a Mafia-type criminal organization, or secret society, originating in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century.-Background:...
gangs in the neapolitan
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
quartiere
Quartiere
A quartiere is a subdivision of certain Italian towns. The word is from quarto, or fourth, and was thus properly used only for towns divided into four neighborhoods. The English word "quarter" to mean a neighborhood A quartiere (plural: quartieri) is a subdivision of certain Italian towns. The...
of Scampia
Scampia
Scampìa is a modern suburb in the north of Naples. The population is about 80,000.-Geography:The district lies in the far north of Naples. To the south are the suburbs of Piscinola-Marianella, Miano and Secondigliano.-History:...
and it broke out in 2004 and 2005. The fight was between the Di Lauro clan
Di Lauro clan
The Di Lauro clan is an Italian crime clan, part of the Camorra in Naples. The clan operates in the neighbourhoods of Secondigliano, Scampìa, Miano, Marianella, Piscinola, and in the adjacent municipalities of Casavatore, Melito, Arzano, Villaricca and Mugnano...
, from Secondigliano
Secondigliano
Secondigliano is a relatively modern suburb in the north of Naples, in southern Italy.-History:The name may derive from a contraction of "secondo" and "miglio" since the area was at the second milestone on the old road to Capua...
, and the so-called "secessionists
Scissionisti di Secondigliano
The Scissionisti di Secondigliano is a Camorra clan from the Secondigliano district of Naples, headed by Raffaele Amato and Cesare Pagano. They are also known as "Spagnoli" because of their endless trips ferrying cocaine from Galicia in Spain...
" (Italian "scissionisti"), a breakaway faction from the once all-powerful Di Lauro clan in the northern suburbs of Naples that tried to assert its control over drugs and prostitution rackets in the area.
Paolo Di Lauro
Paolo Di Lauro
Paolo Di Lauro is an Italian crime boss, leader of the Di Lauro Clan, a Camorra crime organization. He is also known as Ciruzzo 'o milionario among other aliases...
, head of the Camorra clan that runs the northern suburbs, was in charge of a tightly managed drug empire that imported cocaine and heroin and distributed it through an army of dealers. Di Lauro granted neighborhood ringleaders a certain amount of autonomy in exchange for the monopoly and cuts of the proceeds. He went into hiding in 2002 as authorities closed in. He left the business to Vincenzo Di Lauro, one of his ten sons. After the arrest of Vincenzo in 2004, Cosimo Di Lauro
Cosimo Di Lauro
Cosimo Di Lauro is an Italian Camorrista and former acting boss of the Di Lauro clan from Naples. Due to his flamboyant nature and passion for designer clothes, he earned the nickname "The Designer Don"...
took charge.
Cosimo Di Lauro wanted to centralize the drug-dealing operation that had been run as a franchise in which dealers paid the Di Lauros a fee for doing business and were allowed to buy the drugs from any available source. The young Di Lauro removed older gangsters and replaced them with young toughs new to the business. In revolt, a faction now known as the "secessionists" challenged the Di Lauros in October 2004. One of the local dealers, Raffaele Amato
Raffaele Amato
Raffaele Amato is an Italian Camorra boss and head of the Scissionisti di Secondigliano, a Camorra clan from the Napoletano district of Naples...
, disputed the new rules, fled to Spain and organized a revolt against his former bosses. In Scampia, they are known as the Spaniards. Di Lauro responded by ordering the killing of two rebel associates, Fulvio Montanino and Claudio Salerno on October 28, 2004. During their funeral three days later, police arrested two men armed with machine guns who were planning to spray the funeral procession. The two bands fought each other with a brutality that stunned even hardened Carabinieri.
Italy realised the feud had got out of hand with the death of Gelsomina Verde
Gelsomina Verde
Gelsomina Verde was an innocent victim of the Camorra who was tortured and subsequently murdered during the Scampia feud in the city of Naples on November 21, 2004. She was 22 years old....
. The girl, recently turned 22, was abducted and brutally beaten, probably in an effort to get her to disclose the whereabouts of
her former boyfriend, Gennaro Notturno, a Scissionisti clan member. The two had broken up weeks prior to her abduction. She was shot three times in the neck and her body put in a car that was set on fire.
The death of an innocent girl caused widespread public revulsion and led to a major crackdown by the authorities. The governor of the Campania region (of which Naples is the capital) Antonio Bassolino
Antonio Bassolino
Antonio Bassolino, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI is an Italian politician. He has been President of the Campania region from 2000 to 2010.-Biography:Bassolino was born in Afragola, Campania...
said: "This challenge must be met and the state must pay attention." Two days later, Home Secretary Giuseppe Pisanu
Giuseppe Pisanu
Giuseppe Pisanu is an Italian politician, longtime member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Christian Democracy and then for Forza Italia...
dispatched 325 extra police to a city that already had a higher ratio of police to people than any other in the country. On December 7, 2004, an operation involving 1,500 police netted 52 suspected gangsters including Ciro Di Lauro.
His brother Cosimo Di Lauro
Cosimo Di Lauro
Cosimo Di Lauro is an Italian Camorrista and former acting boss of the Di Lauro clan from Naples. Due to his flamboyant nature and passion for designer clothes, he earned the nickname "The Designer Don"...
was arrested in January 2005 and the head of one of the rival gangs, Raffaele Amato
Raffaele Amato
Raffaele Amato is an Italian Camorra boss and head of the Scissionisti di Secondigliano, a Camorra clan from the Napoletano district of Naples...
, a month later. On September 16, 2005, police arrested Paolo Di Lauro
Paolo Di Lauro
Paolo Di Lauro is an Italian crime boss, leader of the Di Lauro Clan, a Camorra crime organization. He is also known as Ciruzzo 'o milionario among other aliases...
in a modest apartment in Secondigliano, on the city's poor and depressing northern outskirts. He was sentenced to 30 years for drug trafficking. Two weeks later Paulo Di Lauro publicly kissed Vincenzo Pariante – one of the bosses of the "secessionists" – during a session in court. Investigators interpreted the gesture as a sign that the feud had ended.
Murders continued well into 2008: Ciro Fabbrocino and Ciro Fontanarosa (March 22), the Girardi brothers (June 2), Lucio De Lucia in 2007... Vincenzo Licciardi
Vincenzo Licciardi
Vincenzo Licciardi is the boss of the Licciardi clan, and one of the main leaders of the Secondigliano Alliance, a Camorra crime syndicate operating in Naples and the surrounding Campania region...
, the reputed head of the so-called Secondigliano Alliance
Secondigliano Alliance
The Secondigliano Alliance is a strategic alliance of Camorra clans in Naples and its hinterland which controls drug trafficking and the extortion racket in many areas of Naples in the 1990s....
was arrested in February 2008. He had been on Italy's most wanted list since 2004.