Vincenzo Licciardi
Encyclopedia
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. His nickname is "'o Chiatto" (Fatso).
, Licciardi was from a powerful family of Camorristi going back a few generations. His father was a well known guappo
or local boss in the 1950s. In 1994, Licciardi became the regent of the Licciardi clan whose traditional strongholds included not only its home base in the district of Secondigliano, but also to Scampia
, Chiaiano
, Miano
and San Pietro a Patierno
. The clan was previously headed by his brother, Gennaro Licciardi, nicknamed "'a scigna" (The monkey), who died of blood poisoning while in the prison of Voghera
on August 3, 1994.
However, an arrest in the mid-nineties prevented him from taking control and propelled his sister Maria Licciardi
into the top spot as boss of the Licciardi clan, and therefore, as head of the Secondigliano Alliance, a coalition of powerful Camorra clans which controls drug trafficking and the extortion rackets against shopkeepers in many Neapolitan suburbs. Under her leadership, the Secondigliano Alliance become more organized, secretive, sophisticated and consequently more powerful.
along with Paolo Di Lauro
and Edoardo Contini
. Apart from the dominant Licciardi clan, the alliance consisted of the Contini
, Di Lauro
, Mallardo
and Lo Russo
clans. The preceding gang wars between the many Camorra clans that constituted the alliance, led to a severe weakening of the confederation as well as unwanted police attention on its activities. Like his sister, Vincenzo was very cautious and never used the phone to communicate with his underlings, instead using small handwritten encrypted notes, similar to the Pizzini used by the Corleonesi
boss, Bernardo Provenzano
. Throughout his reign, Licciardi's main activity covered the illegal trafficking of clothing, which due to a sophisticated international network, which has also allowed the laundering of money from other criminal activities such as drug trafficking and extortion.
, Spain
and France
. He allegedly travelled to these places in order to maintain contacts with the Magliari clan, which controls many drug routes in Europe
.
. He was found hiding in the apartment of distant relatives, where he lived with his wife. During his arrest, he surrendered peacefully and offered no resistance. The detection of the hide-out was made possible through the use of sophisticated technologies. Licciardi's arrest came around the same time as that of a massive anti-Mafia
sweep in Italy
and the United States
. A large anti-Mafia operation code-named "Old Bridge
" involved arrest warrants issued against a total of ninety mafiosi and mob associates of key Italian and US families who controlled drug trafficking between the two sides of the Atlantic.
When Licciardi was escorted to prison by police officials, there was a turmoil by Licciardi's relatives as well as the relatives of other Camorristi, shouting, jostling and moments of tension. After his arrest, Licciardi was succeeded by Gennaro Cirelli as boss of the clan.
Piero Grasso, the national anti-Mafia prosecutor commented: "Licciardi's arrest is another success in the capture of fugitives of opposing clans that were involved in the feud in Secondigliano in recent years. There has moved forward in the complete destruction of the clan that up to today have caused dozens of deaths in the streets of Naples. The capture of Licciardi, for the brilliant way in which it was executed by the police, represents a step forward in the fight against the Camorra."
. The entrepreneur was contemplating suicide, and had complained to the Carabinieri of the extortion attempt. The two had long been controlled by the policemen who were later arrested, due to the entrepreneur's collaboration.
On July 9, 2008, five months after his arrest, 44 people linked to the Licciardi clan were arrested in a raid by the Naples police. The 44 people arrested were accused of conspiracy to murder, drug trafficking, possession of weapons, forgery and attempted aggravated robbery. Vincenzo Licciardi, who was already in prison at the time, was also charged with the aforementioned crimes. The blitz was conducted as a result of investigations that led to the arrest of Vincenzo Licciardi.
An anti-Camorra raid was also undertaken by the Guardia di Finanza
in Naples and the surrounding town of Frosinone
, who seized property, commercial companies, shares of stakes in companies, apartments, buildings, land, cars, motorcycles, with a total estimated value of 300 million euros. In the aftermath of the raids, the police implemented an order for remand in prison handed down by the prosecution of Naples, at the request of local anti-Mafia directorate, against Licciardi and several affiliated criminal organizations that control the drug trafficking and extortion rackets in North Naples.
Licciardi clan
The Licciardi clan is a powerful Neapolitan Camorra clan which operates in the remote areas of Naples, specifically in the Secondigliano district and its stronghold of Masseria Cardone...
, and one of the main leaders of the 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....
, a 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:...
crime syndicate operating in Naples
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...
and the surrounding Campania
Campania
Campania is a region in southern Italy. The region has a population of around 5.8 million people, making it the second-most-populous region of Italy; its total area of 13,590 km² makes it the most densely populated region in the country...
region. His nickname is "'o Chiatto" (Fatso).
Early career
Born and raised in the Neapolitan suburb of SecondiglianoSecondigliano
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...
, Licciardi was from a powerful family of Camorristi going back a few generations. His father was a well known guappo
Guappo
Guappo is a word in Neapolitan dialect, meaning thug, bully, braggart, camorrista. It is often used to indicate a member of the Camorra, a Mafia-type organisation in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy.-Etymology:...
or local boss in the 1950s. In 1994, Licciardi became the regent of the Licciardi clan whose traditional strongholds included not only its home base in the district of Secondigliano, but also to 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:...
, Chiaiano
Chiaiano
Chiaiano is a north-western suburb of Naples, with a population of about 23,000.-Geography:Chiaiano it's a hilly and wooded area that lies between Camaldoli and the Campi Flegrei.-History:...
, Miano
Miano
Miano is a suburb of Naples with a population of around 26,000.-History:Since the recent administrative reorganization of the area, Miano is part of the 10th community board.-Economy:...
and San Pietro a Patierno
San Pietro a Patierno
San Pietro a Patierno is a suburb of Naples, in southern Italy.-Geography:It is one of the largest suburbs of Naples and is relatively lightly populated compared to surrounding areas, with around 20,000 residents...
. The clan was previously headed by his brother, Gennaro Licciardi, nicknamed "'a scigna" (The monkey), who died of blood poisoning while in the prison of Voghera
Voghera
thumb|250px|The Castle of Voghera in a 19th century etching.Voghera is a town and comune of Lombardy, Italy, in the province of Pavia...
on August 3, 1994.
However, an arrest in the mid-nineties prevented him from taking control and propelled his sister Maria Licciardi
Maria Licciardi
Maria Licciardi is a Italian criminal affiliated with the Camorra and former head of the Licciardi clan, based in the Secondigliano quarters in the north of Naples...
into the top spot as boss of the Licciardi clan, and therefore, as head of the Secondigliano Alliance, a coalition of powerful Camorra clans which controls drug trafficking and the extortion rackets against shopkeepers in many Neapolitan suburbs. Under her leadership, the Secondigliano Alliance become more organized, secretive, sophisticated and consequently more powerful.
Camorra boss
After the arrest of his sister on June 15, 2001, Licciardi took over as a supreme head of the Secondigliano AllianceSecondigliano 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....
along with 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...
and Edoardo Contini
Edoardo Contini
Edoardo Contini is an Italian Camorra boss. He is the founder and head of the Contini clan, a Camorra clan with its central base in the Arenaccia, that also operates in the Poggioreale, Vasto, Mercato and San Carlo all'Arena suburbs of Naples.He is known as Faccia d'Angelo and o Romano, due to...
. Apart from the dominant Licciardi clan, the alliance consisted of the Contini
Contini clan
The Contini clan is a Neapolitan Camorra clan operating in the city of Naples, and more specifically in the area of the Naples Central Station. It also operates in the Poggioreale, Vasto, Mercato and San Carlo all'Arena suburbs of Naples.-History:...
, Di Lauro
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...
, Mallardo
Mallardo clan
The Mallardo clan is a Camorra clan operating from the town of Giugliano in Campania, north of the city of Naples.-History:The clan was headed by Domenico Mallardo who was killed by the Maisto clan on June 24, 1976. His son Francesco Mallardo and his younger brother Giuseppe Mallardo succeeded...
and Lo Russo
Lo Russo clan
The Lo Russo clan is a Neapolitan Camorra clan operating on its territory within the city of Naples, concentrated specifically in the area of Miano.-History:...
clans. The preceding gang wars between the many Camorra clans that constituted the alliance, led to a severe weakening of the confederation as well as unwanted police attention on its activities. Like his sister, Vincenzo was very cautious and never used the phone to communicate with his underlings, instead using small handwritten encrypted notes, similar to the Pizzini used by the Corleonesi
Corleonesi
The Corleonesi is the name given to a faction within the Sicilian Mafia that dominated Cosa Nostra in the 1980s and the 1990s. It was called the Corleonesi because its most important leaders came from the town of Corleone, first Luciano Leggio and later Totò Riina, Bernardo Provenzano and Leoluca...
boss, Bernardo Provenzano
Bernardo Provenzano
Bernardo Provenzano is a member of the Sicilian Mafia and is suspected of having been the head of the Corleonesi, a Mafia faction that originated in the village of Corleone, and de facto capo di tutti capi of the entire Sicilian Mafia until his arrest in 2006.His nickname is Binnu u tratturi...
. Throughout his reign, Licciardi's main activity covered the illegal trafficking of clothing, which due to a sophisticated international network, which has also allowed the laundering of money from other criminal activities such as drug trafficking and extortion.
Evading justice
Licciardi became wanted by the Italian police in 2003, after having served a year in prison for a previous conviction. The following year, in July 2004, an arrest warrant was issued against him for conspiracy to commit murder, and a list of other crimes. He was also added to the list of thirty most dangerous fugitives in Italy. In 2005, an international warrant was issued and his name was included in the "special program of research" in the direction of the Central Criminal Police. While a fugitive, Licciardi had managed to evade capture on at least three occasions, once fleeing through the network of sewers. Several sightings of Licciardi were reported abroad, particularly in PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He allegedly travelled to these places in order to maintain contacts with the Magliari clan, which controls many drug routes in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Capture
After five years on the run, Licciardi was arrested on February 7, 2008, in Cuma, near the city of NaplesNaples
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...
. He was found hiding in the apartment of distant relatives, where he lived with his wife. During his arrest, he surrendered peacefully and offered no resistance. The detection of the hide-out was made possible through the use of sophisticated technologies. Licciardi's arrest came around the same time as that of a massive anti-Mafia
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...
sweep in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. A large anti-Mafia operation code-named "Old Bridge
Operation Old Bridge
Operation Old Bridge is the code name for the February 7, 2008 arrests in Italy and the United States that targeted the Gambino crime family. Among the indicted were the reputed acting bosses Jackie D'Amico, Nicholas Corozzo and Consigliere Joseph Corozzo of the Gambino crime family...
" involved arrest warrants issued against a total of ninety mafiosi and mob associates of key Italian and US families who controlled drug trafficking between the two sides of the Atlantic.
When Licciardi was escorted to prison by police officials, there was a turmoil by Licciardi's relatives as well as the relatives of other Camorristi, shouting, jostling and moments of tension. After his arrest, Licciardi was succeeded by Gennaro Cirelli as boss of the clan.
Piero Grasso, the national anti-Mafia prosecutor commented: "Licciardi's arrest is another success in the capture of fugitives of opposing clans that were involved in the feud in Secondigliano in recent years. There has moved forward in the complete destruction of the clan that up to today have caused dozens of deaths in the streets of Naples. The capture of Licciardi, for the brilliant way in which it was executed by the police, represents a step forward in the fight against the Camorra."
Aftermath
On June 15, 2008, his younger sister Patrizia and his brother-in-law Eduardo Marano, known as dino dinuccio were arrested by the Carabinieri and charged with the extortion of an entrepreneur from CasoriaCasoria
Casoria is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 9 km northeast of Naples.Casoria borders the following municipalities: Afragola, Arzano, Cardito, Casalnuovo di Napoli, Casavatore, Frattamaggiore, Naples, Volla.-History:The name of Casoria is...
. The entrepreneur was contemplating suicide, and had complained to the Carabinieri of the extortion attempt. The two had long been controlled by the policemen who were later arrested, due to the entrepreneur's collaboration.
On July 9, 2008, five months after his arrest, 44 people linked to the Licciardi clan were arrested in a raid by the Naples police. The 44 people arrested were accused of conspiracy to murder, drug trafficking, possession of weapons, forgery and attempted aggravated robbery. Vincenzo Licciardi, who was already in prison at the time, was also charged with the aforementioned crimes. The blitz was conducted as a result of investigations that led to the arrest of Vincenzo Licciardi.
An anti-Camorra raid was also undertaken by the Guardia di Finanza
Guardia di Finanza
The Guardia di Finanza is a Italian law enforcement agency under the authority of the Minister of Economy and Finance. Like the Carabinieri, it is part of the Italian Armed Forces. The Guard is essentially responsible for dealing with financial crime and smuggling; it has also evolved into Italy's...
in Naples and the surrounding town of Frosinone
Frosinone
Frosinone is a town and comune in Lazio, central Italy, the administrative seat of the Province of Frosinone. It is located about 75 km south-east of Rome close to the Rome-Naples Autostrada A1...
, who seized property, commercial companies, shares of stakes in companies, apartments, buildings, land, cars, motorcycles, with a total estimated value of 300 million euros. In the aftermath of the raids, the police implemented an order for remand in prison handed down by the prosecution of Naples, at the request of local anti-Mafia directorate, against Licciardi and several affiliated criminal organizations that control the drug trafficking and extortion rackets in North Naples.