The Carabinieri of the Operational and Radiomobile Unit of Petilia Policastro have carried out the definitive confiscation orders, issued by the Court of Catanzaro – Prevention Measures Section, and which have become irrevocable following the ruling of the Court of Appeal of the capital against members of the ‘Ndrangheta gang of Roccabernarda, attributable to the “Bagnato”.
The operation of the Bagnato gang
The activity constitutes the epilogue of a detailed investigation, developed between 2017 and 2019, which had made it possible to document the operations of the “Bagnato” gang and the systematic seizure of numerous agricultural lands in the Crotone municipality.
Intimidation and false wills to take possession of land
The investigations ascertained how members of the criminal association appropriated agricultural land through intimidation and threats against the legitimate owners, exploiting the strength of their mafia membership and also resorting to false wills and false declarations of adverse possession to give apparent legitimacy to the acquisitions.
Between definitive confiscation and restitution to the owners
The investigation culminated on 5 December 2020 in the execution of various personal precautionary measures against the main members of the gang and with the simultaneous preventive seizure of 104 agricultural lands, for a total extension of approximately 50 hectares, as well as further properties and movable assets.
The definitive confiscation concerned 14 agricultural lands covering approximately 9 hectares, a house with attached warehouse, an agricultural tractor, agricultural equipment, two garages, a shed and several heads of cattle, for a total value of over one million euros.
At the same time, the provision ordered the return of 90 agricultural lands to the legitimate beneficiaries, definitively ascertaining the illegitimate removal of the same by the criminal association.