Italian authorities conducted a bold dawn raid today, apprehending a prominent mafia leader. Leonardo Gesualdo, 39, the head of the Foggia Society, an infamous criminal organization known for its ruthless activities in Italy, was captured by the Italian Carabinieri. Gesualdo, listed as one of the most dangerous fugitives in the country, had been evading arrest since 2020 and was sentenced to 12 years in absentia for his involvement in mafia activities.
The Foggia Society, under Gesualdo’s leadership, has been linked to a high rate of criminal activities in the region, including a murder per week, daily robberies, and extortion attempts every two days. The arrest took place in Foggia, where armed officers surprised Gesualdo at his residence on the outskirts of the city.
Footage of the arrest shows the dramatic moment when law enforcement officers broke into the property in southern Italy. Despite the element of surprise, Gesualdo cooperated with the authorities during the arrest. A handgun with a removed serial number was found in his possession during the operation.
In a separate incident, wiretaps revealed conversations among mafia bosses in Sicily expressing dissatisfaction with new recruits and reminiscing about the portrayal of Mafia life in “The Godfather” movie. Giancarlo Romano, a prominent figure in the Sicilian Mafia, lamented the lack of loyalty among new members, deviating from the Mafia’s traditional code of silence.
Romano and other godfathers were heard longing for the power and influence depicted in “The Godfather” movie, contrasting it with their current struggles in the criminal underworld. The intercepted calls also exposed the nicknames used by mafia bosses to address each other, shedding light on their inner workings and challenges faced within the criminal hierarchy.