Raffaele Amato
Encyclopedia
Raffaele Amato is an Italian Camorra
boss and head of the Scissionisti di Secondigliano
, a Camorra clan from the Napoletano district of Naples
. He is known by multiple nicknames in the Neapolitan criminal underworld, including "Lo Spagnolo" (The Spaniard), "'o Lell", "Lell o' chiatt'" (Lell the Fat One) and "'a vecchiarella".
. Amato, Cesare Pagano
and his clan were once a faction within the Di Lauro clan
, headed by Paolo Di Lauro
. However, after Di Lauro became a wanted fugitive in 2002 and his son Vincenzo's arrest in 2004, Cosimo Di Lauro
took charge of the clan. Cosimo wanted to centralize the drug dealing operation that had been run as a franchise in which dealers paid the Di Lauros a fee for doing business and were allowed to buy the drugs from any available source. He also removed older gangsters and replaced them with young toughs new to the business.
and Scampia
as its nerve centres. The war, known as the Scampia feud
(Italian "faida di Scampìa"), resulted in over 60 murders in 2004 and 2005. The feud caused widespread public revulsion against the Camorra and led to a major crackdown by the authorities.
. His arrest came one month after that of his arch-enemy Cosimo Di Lauro
. Amato was eventually extradited to Italy, where he had been accused of murder and drug trafficking. The Italian Interior minister, Giuseppe Pisanu
hailed his capture as "a signal to the people of Naples that we are winning the fight against the Mafia". He stated that his capture meant the two Camorra factions blamed for the spate of killings in Naples have both been decapitated. Furthermore, Pisanu urged more witnesses to break Omerta
, the Camorra code of silence and step forward with evidence.
In 2006, he was released because the limits of his temporary arrest expired. He became a fugitive again.
city of Marbella
in a joint operation between Italian and Spanish police. Prior to his arrest he had been living under a false name on the Costa del Sol
. He is accused of eight homicides between 1991 and 1993 during the so-called Mugnano
feud, and of being "the principal, or one of the principal importers of cocaine into Italy".
He was extradited to Italy and received a 20-year jail sentence on May 19, 2010, in the trial against 48 members of the Amato-Pagano clan. He was charged with Mafia association, drug and arms trafficking and money laundering. He will be stripped of € 20 million in assets in property, businesses and bank accounts in Italy, Spain and Monaco
.
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:...
boss and head of the 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...
, a Camorra clan from the Napoletano district of 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...
. He is known by multiple nicknames in the Neapolitan criminal underworld, including "Lo Spagnolo" (The Spaniard), "'o Lell", "Lell o' chiatt'" (Lell the Fat One) and "'a vecchiarella".
Background
The Scissionisti are also known as "Spagnoli" (Spaniards) because of their endless trips ferrying cocaine from Galicia in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Amato, Cesare Pagano
Cesare Pagano
Cesare Pagano is an Italian Camorrista. Until his arrest in July 2010, he has been on the "most wanted list" of the Italian ministry of the Interior since March 2009, for Camorra association, international drug trafficking and other crimes.Pagano is one of the leaders of Scissionisti di...
and his clan were once a faction within the Di Lauro clan
Di Lauro clan
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...
, headed by 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...
. However, after Di Lauro became a wanted fugitive in 2002 and his son Vincenzo's arrest in 2004, Cosimo Di Lauro
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"...
took charge of the clan. Cosimo wanted to centralize the drug dealing operation that had been run as a franchise in which dealers paid the Di Lauros a fee for doing business and were allowed to buy the drugs from any available source. He also removed older gangsters and replaced them with young toughs new to the business.
Split
In defiance, Amato later split from the Di Lauro clan in October 2004, disputed the new rules, fled to Spain and organized a revolt against his former bosses. From there, he tried to assert the Scissionisti's control over drugs and prostitution rackets in the areas, that included SecondiglianoSecondigliano
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...
and Scampia
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:...
as its nerve centres. The war, 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...
(Italian "faida di Scampìa"), resulted in over 60 murders in 2004 and 2005. The feud caused widespread public revulsion against the Camorra and led to a major crackdown by the authorities.
2005
On February 26, 2005, Amato was arrested along with five other clan members by the Spanish police while leaving a casino in BarcelonaBarcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. His arrest came one month after that of his arch-enemy Cosimo Di Lauro
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"...
. Amato was eventually extradited to Italy, where he had been accused of murder and drug trafficking. The Italian Interior minister, Giuseppe Pisanu
Giuseppe Pisanu
Giuseppe Pisanu is an Italian politician, longtime member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Christian Democracy and then for Forza Italia...
hailed his capture as "a signal to the people of Naples that we are winning the fight against the Mafia". He stated that his capture meant the two Camorra factions blamed for the spate of killings in Naples have both been decapitated. Furthermore, Pisanu urged more witnesses to break Omerta
Omertà
Omertà is a popular attitude and code of honour and a common definition is the "code of silence". It is common in areas of southern Italy, such as Sicily, Apulia, Calabria, and Campania, where criminal organizations defined as Mafia such as the Cosa Nostra, 'Ndrangheta, Sacra Corona Unita, and...
, the Camorra code of silence and step forward with evidence.
In 2006, he was released because the limits of his temporary arrest expired. He became a fugitive again.
2009
On May 17, 2009, Amato was arrested in the SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
city of Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
in a joint operation between Italian and Spanish police. Prior to his arrest he had been living under a false name on the Costa del Sol
Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol is a region in the south of Spain, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the Mediterranean coastline of the Málaga province. The Costa del Sol is situated between two lesser known costas: Costa de la Luz and Costa Tropical...
. He is accused of eight homicides between 1991 and 1993 during the so-called 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...
feud, and of being "the principal, or one of the principal importers of cocaine into Italy".
He was extradited to Italy and received a 20-year jail sentence on May 19, 2010, in the trial against 48 members of the Amato-Pagano clan. He was charged with Mafia association, drug and arms trafficking and money laundering. He will be stripped of € 20 million in assets in property, businesses and bank accounts in Italy, Spain and Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
.