Siderno Group
Encyclopedia
The Siderno Group is a criminal association in Canada and Australia related to the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia
-type organisation in Calabria
. The association is labelled the "Siderno Group" because its members primarily came from the town of Siderno
on the Ionian coast
in Calabria and migrated to Canada and Australia in the 1950s.
, involved in the global cocaine business and money laundering. According to the Siderno police force, "The criminal minds of Siderno are in Canada." One of them, Antonio Commisso
, was arrested in June 2005.
The group has moved narcotics over three continents. They had contacts in Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile and Peru, and had permanent representation in Colombia for drugs and in Costa Rica and Panama for money laundering. It's key man in Colombia, Roberto Pannunzi, was arrested in Medellin
(Colombia) in 1994. In the past, he had been in charge of heroin shipments from Turkey through Italy to the United States.
, the Siderno group includes the Coluccio, Tavernese, DeMaria, Figliomeni, Ruso, and Commisso crime families. Leaders are both based in Calabria and Ontario. The group was built up by Michele (Mike) Racco, urged by Antonio Macrì
, the undisputed boss of Siderno until he was killed in January 1975. Mike Racco had been initiated to the local 'ndrina and moved to Canada in the early 1950s.
The group was at the centre of a criminal business such as drug trafficking, cigarette smuggling, extortion, and gambling. The organisation managed to gain high levels of income from these activities in Canada, but the affiliated persons used to maintain tight links with the small and poor town of Siderno. In fact the organisation of the group was controlled from Siderno or in accordance with clans based there.
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
-type organisation in Calabria
Calabria
Calabria , in antiquity known as Bruttium, is a region in southern Italy, south of Naples, located at the "toe" of the Italian Peninsula. The capital city of Calabria is Catanzaro....
. The association is labelled the "Siderno Group" because its members primarily came from the town of Siderno
Siderno
Siderno is a town and comune located in Calabria, Italy about 3 kilometres from Locri.Siderno Marina is the newer town located on the Ionian coast. It is popular with both Italian and foreign tourists and has a bathing beach....
on the Ionian coast
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
in Calabria and migrated to Canada and Australia in the 1950s.
Characteristics
The Siderno crime group operates throughout Canada, the United States, Australia and Europe and is composed of a group of families who are related by blood or marriage. Siderno is home to one of the 'Ndrangheta's biggest and most important clans, the Commisso 'ndrinaCommisso 'ndrina
The Commisso 'ndrina is a powerful clan of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. The 'ndrina is based in Siderno, but has an important branch in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada.-In Siderno:...
, involved in the global cocaine business and money laundering. According to the Siderno police force, "The criminal minds of Siderno are in Canada." One of them, Antonio Commisso
Antonio Commisso
Antonio Commisso is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. He was a fugitive since 2005 and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture on June 28, 2005, near Toronto, Canada...
, was arrested in June 2005.
The group has moved narcotics over three continents. They had contacts in Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile and Peru, and had permanent representation in Colombia for drugs and in Costa Rica and Panama for money laundering. It's key man in Colombia, Roberto Pannunzi, was arrested in Medellin
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
(Colombia) in 1994. In the past, he had been in charge of heroin shipments from Turkey through Italy to the United States.
Canada
In Canada, in particular in the Greater Toronto AreaGreater Toronto Area
The Greater Toronto Area is the largest metropolitan area in Canada, with a 2006 census population of 5.5 million. The Greater Toronto Area is usually defined as the central city of Toronto, along with four regional municipalities surrounding it: Durham, Halton, Peel, and York...
, the Siderno group includes the Coluccio, Tavernese, DeMaria, Figliomeni, Ruso, and Commisso crime families. Leaders are both based in Calabria and Ontario. The group was built up by Michele (Mike) Racco, urged by Antonio Macrì
Antonio Macrì
Antonio Macrì , popularly known as Zzi 'ntoni, was a historical and charismatic boss of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy...
, the undisputed boss of Siderno until he was killed in January 1975. Mike Racco had been initiated to the local 'ndrina and moved to Canada in the early 1950s.
The group was at the centre of a criminal business such as drug trafficking, cigarette smuggling, extortion, and gambling. The organisation managed to gain high levels of income from these activities in Canada, but the affiliated persons used to maintain tight links with the small and poor town of Siderno. In fact the organisation of the group was controlled from Siderno or in accordance with clans based there.