In Reggio the bribe was also paid to organize an end-of-year party. The emissaries of the ‘ndrine cornered the unfortunate promoter, who had already rented a prestigious villa: to host the party he had to shell out 700 euros in cash (after long negotiations) and 15 entrance tickets (worth 45 euros each). An episode which, according to investigators, occurred between December 2024 and February 2025.
Yesterday yet another blitz to crush the criminal appetites of a ‘ndrangheta cell in Gallico, the popular hamlet north of Reggio which for years has found no peace between mafia takeover plans, criminal leadership ambitions, fibrillations and score-settling between the competing factions. Two arrests – Carmelo Giuseppe Cartisano, 54 years old, better known as “Naos” in prison; Antonino Bilardi, 39 years old, known as “Sampei” is under house arrest – with very serious charges: mafia and extortion.
Cartisano: the leader of Gallico, friend of the Archi gangs
The most delicate position rests on Carmelo Cartisano: for the anti-mafia prosecutor’s office and the Reggio Flying Squad he was the local leader of Gallico “in synergy with the Archi gangs”. A power that according to the investigators he would also have exercised during his imprisonment. From the investigation papers it appears that as a prisoner he “gave orders and gave operational instructions to the affiliates, also in relation to extortion”. And he received shares of the proceeds of extortion; he took care of the maintenance in prison «of the inmate associates and of the “collection” for the payment of legal expenses», he gave instructions for them to financially support the families of the prisoners.
The minor role of Bilardi and the third suspect
At his side was Antonino Bilardi: they operated “in competition with multiple executive actions of the same criminal plan”. A minor role, but he is also accused of having acted as a figurehead for the boss, having “fictitiously” owned a construction company. The investigation includes a third suspect (not subject to any precautionary measures) for fictitious registration of assets.
Already this morning the two suspects will undergo preliminary interrogation: Carmelo Cartisano, defended by the lawyers Pasquale Forti and Antonino Tripodi, and Antonino Bilardi, defended by the lawyer Marco Gemelli, will find themselves before the investigating judge and prosecutor to face the charges.