Police arrested 52 people on Tuesday in a major crackdown against Cosa Nostra elements considered close to Bernardo Provenzano, the mafia superboss who was arrested last April after 43 years on the run.
Police sources said the 52 were in part identified through deciphering the 'pizzini' or paper notes Provenzano used to communicate with members of his vast criminal empire. Vital information on the 52 was gathered by planting listening devices at a warehouse used as a meeting place by gang leaders on the outskirts of Palermo.
Three of those arrested are believed to be members of a governing 'commission' while another 16 are considered to be family 'capos'. The three are Antonio Rotolo, 60, head of the Pagliarelli clan who took part in commission meetings despite
being under house arrest.
Although he was sentenced to life for a series of homicides, Rotolo was granted house arrest for health reasons.
Another commission chief was Antonino Cina', a doctor who was the physician for jailed 'boss of bosses' Salvatore (Toto') Riina and who had already served a prison term for Mafia association. The third commissioner, suspected being the coordinator for 16 capos, was Francesco Bonura, 64. In taped conversations from the warehouse, located near Rotolo's home, the three revealed the names of Mafia collaborators, many of whom were unknown to police and were among the 52 arrested on Tuesday.
Police said that their wiretap evidence confirmed that Provenzano remained the supreme Cosa Nostra chief right up to his arrested on April 11. The taped evidence was also said to have confirmed strong ties with certain politicians and that political parties had been infiltrated with candidates handpicked by the Mafia. The chief of anti-mafia police declared yesterday that the "mafia is now on its knees".
