Secondigliano Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Secondigliano Alliance (Italian
: Alleanza di Secondigliano) 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 main clans composing the alliance were the Licciardi clan
, Contini clan
and Lo Russo clan
from Naples and the Mallardo clan
from Giugliano. The alliance was initiated by Gennaro Licciardi, who built his clan in the early 1990s in the Secondigliano
, a northern suburb of Naples. The alliance included Edoardo Contini
and Francesco Mallardo
, and dominated the Neapolitan underworld during the 1990s. When the three male leaders died or were imprisoned, Licciardi’s sister Maria Licciardi
was left in charge of the alliance. Under her leadership, the alliance become more organized, secretive, sophisticated and consequently more powerful.
The reign of Maria Licciardi ran smoothly for many years without any problems, until a disagreement arose over a consignment pure unrefined heroin. In the spring of 1999, a large consignment of heroin arrived from Istanbul
, Turkey
. Licciardi decreed it should not be used as it was too pure and strong for the junkies, and would kill them. However, the Lo Russo clan
disagreed and repackaged the shipment ready for being sold on the streets. The sale of unrefined heroin resulted in the deaths of many drug addicts across Naples and caused great public outrage and resulted in massive police crackdowns on the Camorra clans. Many Camorristi were arrested and subsequently imprisoned.
The Lo Russo clan eventually split from the alliance, causing disintegration and a bloody gang war, including the use of car bombs and bazooka
attacks. Clans began fighting over turf, and attempted to destroy or take other clan's business. When four clan members were murdered in her stronghold of Secondigliano, Licciardi was forced to retaliate. She mobilised her footsoldiers for an all-out counter-attack. The deadly gang wars resulted in nearly 120 deaths in Naples and the surrounding region. It was around this time that investigators became aware of Licciardi's existence.
Maria Licciardi was arrested on June 15, 2001, which signaled the beginning of the end of the alliance. Her brother Vincenzo Licciardi
took over as a supreme head of the Secondigliano Alliance along with Paolo Di Lauro
and Edoardo Contini. Licciardi was arrested on February 7, 2008.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
: Alleanza di Secondigliano) is a strategic alliance of Camorra
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:...
clans 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...
and its hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
which controls drug trafficking and the extortion racket in many areas of Naples in the 1990s.
The main clans composing the alliance were the Licciardi clan
Licciardi clan
The Licciardi clan is a powerful Neapolitan Camorra clan which operates in the remote areas of Naples, specifically in the Secondigliano district and its stronghold of Masseria Cardone...
, Contini clan
Contini clan
The Contini clan is a Neapolitan Camorra clan operating in the city of Naples, and more specifically in the area of the Naples Central Station. It also operates in the Poggioreale, Vasto, Mercato and San Carlo all'Arena suburbs of Naples.-History:...
and Lo Russo clan
Lo Russo clan
The Lo Russo clan is a Neapolitan Camorra clan operating on its territory within the city of Naples, concentrated specifically in the area of Miano.-History:...
from Naples and the Mallardo clan
Mallardo clan
The Mallardo clan is a Camorra clan operating from the town of Giugliano in Campania, north of the city of Naples.-History:The clan was headed by Domenico Mallardo who was killed by the Maisto clan on June 24, 1976. His son Francesco Mallardo and his younger brother Giuseppe Mallardo succeeded...
from Giugliano. The alliance was initiated by Gennaro Licciardi, who built his clan in the early 1990s in the 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...
, a northern suburb of Naples. The alliance included Edoardo Contini
Edoardo Contini
Edoardo Contini is an Italian Camorra boss. He is the founder and head of the Contini clan, a Camorra clan with its central base in the Arenaccia, that also operates in the Poggioreale, Vasto, Mercato and San Carlo all'Arena suburbs of Naples.He is known as Faccia d'Angelo and o Romano, due to...
and Francesco Mallardo
Francesco Mallardo
Francesco Mallardo , also known as "Ciccio è Carlantonio", is an Italian criminal and a member of the Neapolitan Camorra. He headed the Mallardo clan operating from the town of Giugliano in Campania, north of the city of Naples...
, and dominated the Neapolitan underworld during the 1990s. When the three male leaders died or were imprisoned, Licciardi’s sister Maria Licciardi
Maria Licciardi
Maria Licciardi is a Italian criminal affiliated with the Camorra and former head of the Licciardi clan, based in the Secondigliano quarters in the north of Naples...
was left in charge of the alliance. Under her leadership, the alliance become more organized, secretive, sophisticated and consequently more powerful.
The reign of Maria Licciardi ran smoothly for many years without any problems, until a disagreement arose over a consignment pure unrefined heroin. In the spring of 1999, a large consignment of heroin arrived from Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Licciardi decreed it should not be used as it was too pure and strong for the junkies, and would kill them. However, the Lo Russo clan
Lo Russo clan
The Lo Russo clan is a Neapolitan Camorra clan operating on its territory within the city of Naples, concentrated specifically in the area of Miano.-History:...
disagreed and repackaged the shipment ready for being sold on the streets. The sale of unrefined heroin resulted in the deaths of many drug addicts across Naples and caused great public outrage and resulted in massive police crackdowns on the Camorra clans. Many Camorristi were arrested and subsequently imprisoned.
The Lo Russo clan eventually split from the alliance, causing disintegration and a bloody gang war, including the use of car bombs and bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
attacks. Clans began fighting over turf, and attempted to destroy or take other clan's business. When four clan members were murdered in her stronghold of Secondigliano, Licciardi was forced to retaliate. She mobilised her footsoldiers for an all-out counter-attack. The deadly gang wars resulted in nearly 120 deaths in Naples and the surrounding region. It was around this time that investigators became aware of Licciardi's existence.
Maria Licciardi was arrested on June 15, 2001, which signaled the beginning of the end of the alliance. Her brother Vincenzo Licciardi
Vincenzo Licciardi
Vincenzo Licciardi is the boss of the Licciardi clan, and one of the main leaders of the Secondigliano Alliance, a Camorra crime syndicate operating in Naples and the surrounding Campania region...
took over as a supreme head of the Secondigliano Alliance along with 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...
and Edoardo Contini. Licciardi was arrested on February 7, 2008.