Overview

• A criminal group tied to the Santapaola-Ercolano Mafia family in Aci Catena and Acireale was dismantled by Italian authorities.
• The Carabinieri executed precautionary custody orders for 14 suspects, with 10 sent to prison, two under house arrest, and two under residence obligations.
• The group is accused of armed drug trafficking, illegal weapons possession, and other crimes, all with a mafia aggravating factor.
• Raids uncovered an abandoned 'fortino' used to store drugs, weapons, and packaging materials for the narcotics trade.
• The operation, named 'Cubisia connection,' remains active as seizures and interrogations continue to target mafia-driven narcotics networks.