Share
11 November 2020 The Carabinieri of the Provincial Command of Messina have carried out a precautionary custody order against 33 people accused, for various reasons, of mafia association, clandestine horse racing, clandestine bets on unauthorized sports competitions, mistreatment of animals, fraudulent transfer of values, extortion, association for the purpose of drug trafficking, trafficking.
The investigation was coordinated by the Messina DDA led by the prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia.
The operation made it possible to break up the Galli clan and to identify a drug distribution network that operates in various districts of Messina.
The investigation documented the clan's control of the betting business on clandestine horse racing organized at night in the city and suburbs.
The roads chosen for the races are closed to traffic by groups of young people on scooters and motorcycles recruited by the clan to allow the undisturbed passage of horse-drawn carriages.
According to investigators, the Messina clan turned to the mafia family of the Santapaola of Catania to regulate relations and disputes over the clandestine races between the Messina and Catania stables that took place between the two provinces.
Among the suspects there is also a veterinarian who gave drugs to animals to improve their performance.
There are also seizures of assets attributable to the clan.