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- According to an investigation by the Lecce Directorate of Antimafia, an Italian criminal organization operating in Manduria allegedly imposed a system of forced monthly collections on roughly 70...
- Police executed 21 custodial measures in prison following an investigation coordinated by the Lecce Directorate of Antimafia and the Public Prosecutor's Office of Taranto.
- The 578-page arrest warrant details how the criminal network exercised territorial control over the illegally occupied residential complex on via Padre Pio da Pietrelcina in Manduria.
According to an investigation by the Lecce Directorate of Antimafia, an Italian criminal organization operating in Manduria allegedly imposed a system of forced monthly collections on roughly 70 families living in unauthorized apartments on via Padre Pio da Pietrelcina, threatening residents with violence or utility shutoffs if they failed to pay.
Manduria Antimafia Operation Leads to 21 Arrests
Police executed 21 custodial measures in prison following an investigation coordinated by the Lecce Directorate of Antimafia and the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Taranto. Authorities have charged suspects with mafia-type association, drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons and war munitions, extortion, and robbery. In addition to targeting local business owners, investigators state the criminal network extorted money from residents in vulnerable housing conditions. The clan also targeted an association assigned to the 118 emergency medical service station in Avetrana.
Extortion and Violence in the Padre Pio Housing Blocks
The 578-page arrest warrant details how the criminal network exercised territorial control over the illegally occupied residential complex on via Padre Pio da Pietrelcina in Manduria. Rather than relying solely on visible weapons or large drug shipments, the system functioned through the control of basic needs such as housing access, water, and electricity. Residents were reportedly forced to pay approximately 25 euros each month. According to court documents, the funds were collected to cover water and electricity services—often provided via illegal hookups—as well as property repairs, with demanded figures sometimes exceeding actual expenses. This protection and extortion racket allegedly operated continuously from November 2012 through November 2024.
The Chain of Command and Collection Methods
Investigators identified Vincenzo Stranieri, nicknamed “Stellina,” as the person who ordered the collections from residents. Authorities note that Stranieri continued to issue directives even during periods of detention. When he was not physically present, his daughter Anna Stranieri allegedly ensured his orders were carried out. Court documents list Luigi Zizzari, Maria Rosaria Fanuli, and Marco Portogallo as individuals accused of physically collecting the money. According to witness statements published in the investigative files, collectors walked through the housing complex carrying a notebook to log accounts from the roughly 70 families. One witness described being severely beaten inside his home after failing to pay a monthly installment due to a lack of money. The witness stated he suffered facial and bodily injuries but avoided seeking medical documentation out of fear of retaliation.
