The Capriati clan is a criminal organization, originating from the city of Bari, operating mainly in the historic centre of the city.[1]
| Founded | 1980s |
|---|---|
| Founder | Antonio Capriati |
| Founding location | Bari, Apulia, Italy |
| Years active | 1980s–present |
| Territory | Bari, in particular the historic city centre. |
| Ethnicity | Apulians |
| Activities | Murder, drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, usury, gambling |
| Allies | Parisi-Palermiti clan Mercante-Diomede clan |
| Rivals | Strisciuglio clan |
History
editActive since the 1980s, the criminal organization has historically been led by Antonio Capriati, known as Tonino, currently in prison where he is serving a life sentence.[2]
The clan is mainly dedicated to extortion and drug dealing, and for a certain period under the leadership of Tonino's nephews, Filippo and Pietro, the group tried to expand into other areas beyond its stronghold in Bari Vecchia, having also committed thefts in the region of Basilicata. Furthermore, the clan also managed to infiltrate a company that manages internal roads in the Port of Bari, and according to the investigations, the Capriati aimed to infiltrate the economic fabric of the city.[3]
In 2018, the then head of the organization, Filippo Capriati, was arrested and sentenced to 16 years in prison.[4] In September 2023, a "top-down and hierarchical" structure was dismantled by the Carabinieri, based on the presence of various territorial structures operating under the aegis of the Capriati clan, which allegedly ensured and managed "upstream" the trafficking of narcotic substances in the South of the Bari area, in the territories of Putignano, Castellana Grotte, Noci, Alberobello, Locorotondo, Acquaviva delle Fonti. 60 people were arrested in the operation.[5] In October 2023, 600,000 euros were seized from a member of the clan, the man was the "representative" of the Capriati clan in the control of the slot machine market and would then have used the clan's sums of money for real estate investments and financial, by registering assets to their trustees.[6][7]
In March 2024, a photo of the then mayor of Bari Antonio Decaro appeared on social medias, with the sister and niece of the boss Antonino Capriati. The photo caused a stir among the population and political parties, who asked the mayor for explanations. After the photo went viral and appeared in national newspapers, the mayor defended himself by saying that he didn't know who they were and after investigating he discovered that despite belonging to the Capriati family, the women are unrelated to the clan's activities, while the niece of the Capriati boss, Annalisa Milzi, denied any relationship between her and her mother and the mayor, claiming that this photo is from the Feast of the Patron Saint Saint Nicholas in 2023, and that it was taken after asking the mayor if she could take a selfie with him.[8] On 25 March 2024 arrived in Bari the access commission of the Interior Ministry, to evaluate hypotheses of mafia infiltration in the city.[9]
In October 2024, the confiscation of the assets of Vito Martiradonna, known as Vitin l'Enèl, former cashier of the clan, was confirmed. The confiscated assets include two luxury apartments in London, bank accounts, Rolex watches, jewelry and other luxury items. These assets had been discovered by the G.I.C.O. as part of the 2018 investigation, which led to the arrest of 22 people, involved in the creation of a real holding company for illegal gambling that had generated an estimated turnover of €1 billion and also had the support of Tommaso Parisi, son of Savino Parisi, head of the Parisi clan, a historic ally of the Capriati clan.[10]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Blitz nel feudo dei Capriati: a Bari Vecchia, sequestro di droga e di un'arma pronta all'uso". BariLive.it (in Italian). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Processo "Dolmen", ergastolo per Capriati". BariLive.it (in Italian). 2008-12-07. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Dalle estorsioni alle attività nel porto, così il clan Capriati si era riorganizzato: "Puntava a infiltrarsi nel tessuto economico della città"". BariToday (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Mafia, sconto di pena per il boss di Bari vecchia Filippo Capriati: sconterà 16 anni invece di 20". la Repubblica (in Italian). 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Traffico di droga nel Sud Barese, la 'rete' sul territorio e il controllo del clan Capriati: 60 arresti nel blitz dei carabinieri". BariToday (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ online, Redazione. "Bari, le mani del clan Capriati sul mercato delle slot: sequestrati beni per 600mila euro a pregiudicato". www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ redazione (2023-10-02). "Bari, sequestrati 600 mila euro ad un esponente del clan Capriati". Borderline24.com (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ "Decaro, spunta foto con una sorella del boss. Il sindaco: 'Quelle donne estranee alle attività dei clan'". Quotidiano Nazionale (in Italian). 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ Roma, Redazione (2024-03-25). "Bari, spunta foto di Decaro con sorella boss: centrodestra all'attacco. Il sindaco: 'Estranea al clan'". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-03-26.
- ^ Puglia, Giornale di (2024-10-07). "Confermata la confisca dei beni di Vito Martiradonna, ex cassiere del clan Capriati". Giornale di Puglia (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-10-16.