More Assets Seized
In January 2010, police seized construction companies, villas, shops and vehicles worth some 550 million euros (USD 760 million) from a western Sicilian construction magnate, Rosario Cascio, believed to be one of the main bankrollers and money launderers for Messina Denaro. Together with 700 million euros (USD 970 million) in assets taken from supermarket magnate Giuseppe Grigoli at the end of 2008 and 200 million euros (USD 280 million) from construction tycoon Francesco Pecora in November 2009. In total 1.4 billion euros (USD 1.9 billion) have been seized, which is seen as a clear reminder of the deep-rooted economic power of Messina Denaro.
In September 2010, police seized a record amount of assets worth 1.5 bn euros (USD 2 billion) from a Sicilian businessman Vito Nicastri accused of working with Messina Denaro. He had invested in wind and solar energy sources, as a way of laundering money. The Italian police is applying a new strategy to try to capture Messina Denaro, arresting scores of his underlings and seizing million of euros in assets. "The circle is closing around the No.1 fugitive," Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said. Palermo Chief Prosecutor Francesco Messineo added that the aim of the strategy against Messina Denaro was to "dry up the water he swims in".
With the arrest of Gerlandino Messina, the alleged boss of Agrigento, on October 23, 2010 in Favara, Agrigento province, the circle around Messina Denaro tightens even more, as notes addressed specifically to Messina Denaro to discuss territorial division, will provide clues to his whereabouts and recent activities.
Read more about this topic: Matteo Messina Denaro
Famous quotes containing the word seized:
“Man lives two lives, woe, were it otherwise! One is seized by death, the other one, his honor, remains.”
—Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)