Three precautionary custody measures were carried out last night by the Guardia di Finanza of Reggio Emilia – with the accusation of usury and aggravated extortion – against three people investigated and already affected by restrictive measures within the scope of the ‘Minefield’ operation: the recipients of the measure are two men of Calabrian origin and a local entrepreneur who, at the time of the arrest, was in the province of Taranto.
The arrests follow the developments of the ‘Minefield’ operation which, last August 10, saw three people arrested, accused of extortion and threats, in light of the statements of a businessman from Campania, who had told investigators that he had been involved in a criminal mechanism and had been subjected to several requests for money, both extortionate and usurious.
The investigation activities conducted by the Reggio Emilia Finance Police have revealed how the various individuals involved would have solicited the illicit collection of credits by violating the provisions of the ban on communicating, imposed on them during the previous application of the measure of house arrest. Three other men, considered close to organized crime circles and already arrested last August 10 following extortion and threats against the Campania entrepreneur, would have also operated in their interest in the Reggio Emilia area.
The ‘Minefield’ operation, last February, had allowed the identification of a criminal association made up of individuals originally from Cutro; accountants and chartered accountants from Calabria and Campania, citizens of Reggio Emilia and others of Apulian origin who, through a network of shell companies, would have managed a turnover, estimated at over 30 million, in the sector of services, such as, for example, cleaning, shipbuilding and labour, in environments close to organised crime.