Di Lauro clan
Encyclopedia
The Di Lauro clan is an Italian crime clan, part of the Camorra
in Naples
. The clan operates in the neighbourhoods of Secondigliano
, Scampìa
, Miano
, Marianella, Piscinola, and in the adjacent municipalities of Casavatore
, Melito, Arzano
, Villaricca
and Mugnano
(all in the province of Naples
). The head of the clan is Paolo Di Lauro
(known as "Ciruzzo il milionario"), from Via Cupa dell'Arco, in Secondigliano.
The Italian Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia ("Antimafia District Directorate") first investigated the clan in 2002, which led to the imprisonment of its most influential members, including Abbinate clan boss Raffaele "Papale e Marano" Abbinate, who was aligned with Di Lauro, but Paolo Di Lauro managed to stay free. Despite this setback, the clan increased its power and the arrested members where replaced by several of Di Lauro's ten sons: Cosimo
(b. 1973), Ciro (b. 1978) and Marco (b. 1980). At the same time a the coalition was strengthened with other clans in the Secondigliano Alliance
. The clan's "old guard" lost its power, and some of Di Lauro's former faithful allies formed a rival alliance (Scissionisti di Secondigliano
) and started a bloody power struggle in 2004, known as the Scampia feud
.
The Di Lauro clan controls drug trafficking in his Neapolitan areas as well as in most of southern Italy. Its affiliates numbered hundreds (perhaps thousands) once, though now they seem to have reduced.
Paolo Di Lauro became a fugitive in 2002 and left the business to his sons Cosimo
and Vincenzo (b. 1975). Ciro Di Lauro was arrested in late 2004, followed by Cosimo in January 2005 after the police launched a series of operations against the warring factions in the Scampia feud. In September 2005, police arrested the patriarch of the clan Paolo Di Lauro. Vincenzo Di Lauro was arrested in March 2007, and the latest of the sons still on the run, Nunzio Di Lauro, was arrested on March 3, 2008.
Camorra
The Camorra is a Mafia-type criminal organization, or secret society, originating in the region of Campania and its capital Naples in Italy. It is one of the oldest and largest criminal organizations in Italy, dating to the 18th century.-Background:...
in Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
. The clan operates in the neighbourhoods of Secondigliano
Secondigliano
Secondigliano is a relatively modern suburb in the north of Naples, in southern Italy.-History:The name may derive from a contraction of "secondo" and "miglio" since the area was at the second milestone on the old road to Capua...
, Scampìa
Scampia
Scampìa is a modern suburb in the north of Naples. The population is about 80,000.-Geography:The district lies in the far north of Naples. To the south are the suburbs of Piscinola-Marianella, Miano and Secondigliano.-History:...
, Miano
Miano
Miano is a suburb of Naples with a population of around 26,000.-History:Since the recent administrative reorganization of the area, Miano is part of the 10th community board.-Economy:...
, Marianella, Piscinola, and in the adjacent municipalities of Casavatore
Casavatore
Casavatore is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 8 km north of Naples. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 19,608 and an area of 1.62 km²...
, Melito, Arzano
Arzano
Arzano is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 9 km north of Naples. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 37,994 and an area of 4.68 km²....
, Villaricca
Villaricca
Villaricca is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 10 km northwest of Naples...
and Mugnano
Mugnano di Napoli
Mugnano di Napoli is a comune in the Province of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about 10 km northwest of Naples. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 31,602 and an area of 5.27 km²...
(all in the province of Naples
Province of Naples
The Province of Naples is a province in the Campania region of Italy. Its capital city is Naples, within the province there are 92 Comuni of the Province of Naples.-Demographics:...
). The head of the clan is Paolo Di Lauro
Paolo Di Lauro
Paolo Di Lauro is an Italian crime boss, leader of the Di Lauro Clan, a Camorra crime organization. He is also known as Ciruzzo 'o milionario among other aliases...
(known as "Ciruzzo il milionario"), from Via Cupa dell'Arco, in Secondigliano.
The Italian Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia ("Antimafia District Directorate") first investigated the clan in 2002, which led to the imprisonment of its most influential members, including Abbinate clan boss Raffaele "Papale e Marano" Abbinate, who was aligned with Di Lauro, but Paolo Di Lauro managed to stay free. Despite this setback, the clan increased its power and the arrested members where replaced by several of Di Lauro's ten sons: Cosimo
Cosimo Di Lauro
Cosimo Di Lauro is an Italian Camorrista and former acting boss of the Di Lauro clan from Naples. Due to his flamboyant nature and passion for designer clothes, he earned the nickname "The Designer Don"...
(b. 1973), Ciro (b. 1978) and Marco (b. 1980). At the same time a the coalition was strengthened with other clans in the Secondigliano Alliance
Secondigliano Alliance
The Secondigliano Alliance is a strategic alliance of Camorra clans in Naples and its hinterland which controls drug trafficking and the extortion racket in many areas of Naples in the 1990s....
. The clan's "old guard" lost its power, and some of Di Lauro's former faithful allies formed a rival alliance (Scissionisti di Secondigliano
Scissionisti di Secondigliano
The Scissionisti di Secondigliano is a Camorra clan from the Secondigliano district of Naples, headed by Raffaele Amato and Cesare Pagano. They are also known as "Spagnoli" because of their endless trips ferrying cocaine from Galicia in Spain...
) and started a bloody power struggle in 2004, known as the Scampia feud
Scampia feud
The Scampia feud was a feud between the Camorra gangs in the neapolitan quartiere of Scampia and it broke out in 2004 and 2005...
.
The Di Lauro clan controls drug trafficking in his Neapolitan areas as well as in most of southern Italy. Its affiliates numbered hundreds (perhaps thousands) once, though now they seem to have reduced.
Paolo Di Lauro became a fugitive in 2002 and left the business to his sons Cosimo
Cosimo Di Lauro
Cosimo Di Lauro is an Italian Camorrista and former acting boss of the Di Lauro clan from Naples. Due to his flamboyant nature and passion for designer clothes, he earned the nickname "The Designer Don"...
and Vincenzo (b. 1975). Ciro Di Lauro was arrested in late 2004, followed by Cosimo in January 2005 after the police launched a series of operations against the warring factions in the Scampia feud. In September 2005, police arrested the patriarch of the clan Paolo Di Lauro. Vincenzo Di Lauro was arrested in March 2007, and the latest of the sons still on the run, Nunzio Di Lauro, was arrested on March 3, 2008.