Friends of Ours

Italians Commemorate 21st Anniversary On Mob Hits Against Two Judges

The good people of Italy yesterday marked the 21st anniversary of the assassinations of anti-Mafia judges Paolo Borsellino and Giovanni Falcone who were killed in separate bomb attacks during the mob's stragismo -- strategy of terror -- against the state in the early 1990s.

Italian Premier Enrico Letta "vowed to continue a 'relentless commitment in the fight against the Mafia' including new laws" as reported by ANSA:  "'Unfortunately, the Mafia still exists,' Letta said."

The fight against the Mafia in Italy increasingly is becoming a youth movement, and among those who joined in the 21st anniversary commemoration activities for Borsellino and Falcone were "thousands of Italian students [who] sailed to Palermo on so-called 'ships of lawfulness'" as reported by euronews.

Mafia Clans Lose Assets Worth $100 Million

The life is only fun until someone loses his assets.

Italian police have seized over $100 million in suspected Mafia assets pursuant to two separate investigations.

Yesterday companies, property and funds worth 48 million euros ($62 million) were seized from a business group involved with methane conversion which authorities suspect was backed by the Corleonesi clan from Cosa Nostra or the Sicilian Mafia as reported by ANSA.

And today assets worth 40 million euros ($51.5 million) were seized from multiple businessmen whom authorities suspect were clean names for the Mancuso clan from the 'Ndrangheta or Calabrian Mafia as reported by ANSA.

Mob Boss Confronts Mortality In Prison

Prison video shows Bernardo Provenzano, the former "boss of bosses" for Cosa Nostra or the Sicilian Mafia, as a physical shell of his former self as he rots behind bars and succumbs to age as reported by ANSA.   The 79-year-old once dubbed "the Bulldozer" was apprehended in 2006, and now is serving a life term for ochestrating the mob's stragismo -- strategy of terror -- against the state which included the assassinations of anti-mafia prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in separate bomb attacks in 1992.  Last December Provenzano underwent brain surgery to remove a cerebral hematoma after falling in his prison cell.

Next stop:  hell.  Even Jesus won't forgive Provenzano for what he did.

Asset Seizure Hits Santapaola Clan

Italian authorities have seized assets worth 1.5 million euros ($1.9 million) from Alfio and Salvatore Tancona who allegedly are high-ranking members of the Santapaola clan from Cosa Nostra or the Sicilian Mafia which operates in the island's east coast city of Catania as reported by ANSA.  Earlier this year anti-Mafia police targeted the clan in a raid with 22 arrests.

Italian Judge Charged With Money Laundering

A judge, two cops and several lawyers and accountants are among the thirty-four defendants arrested for their alleged roles in a mob-tied money laundering operation across Italy as reported by ANSA.