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{{About|the criminal organization|the 1963 film|I basilischi}} |
{{About|the criminal organization|the 1963 film|I basilischi}} |
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The '''Basilischi''' is a [[mafia]]-type criminal organization active in the [[Basilicata]] region, founded in [[Potenza]] in 1994 with the approval of the [['Ndrangheta]]. Its status as a mafia group was only recognized on December 21, 2007, with a verdict from the Potenza Court that sentenced twenty-six defendants to a total of 242 years in prison.<ref name=history>{{cite journal|url=https://www.academia.edu/633694|title=Fifth Column: Italy's Fifth Mafia, the Basilischi|first=Anna |last=Sergi}}</ref> |
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The '''Basilischi''' ({{IPA|it|baziˈliski|lang}}) was an [[organized crime]] group based in [[Basilicata]], [[Southern Italy]], officially formed in 1994 by Giovanni Luigi Cosentino in [[Potenza]]. According to the national anti-mafia prosecutor's office, the areas with Basilischi strongholds are those of [[Policoro]], [[Montalbano Jonico]], [[Pisticci]], [[Scanzano Jonico]], the [[Val d'Agri]] and the [[Vulture (region)|Vulture region]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://storiografia.me/2012/12/16/antonio-de-lisa-i-basilischi-lucani-la-quinta-mafia-ditalia/|title=Antonio De Lisa- I Basilischi lucani – La quinta mafia d'Italia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/it/article/vbk73b/mafia-basilischi|title=Ascesa e caduta dei Basilischi, la mafia italiana che voleva imitare la 'ndrangheta|date=14 June 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corrieredipolicoro.blogspot.it/2017/07/mafia-la-basilicata-e-sempre-assediata.html|title=Mafia: la Basilicata è sempre assediata|date=2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.giornalettismo.com/archives/1726303/mafia-ndrangheta-camorra-mappa-clan/|title=Mafia, 'ndrangheta, camorra: la mappa dei clan|date=5 February 2015 }}</ref> |
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==Origin of the Name== |
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An ancient term, used as far back as [[Pliny the Elder]] to refer to a lethal reptile of the time, the name is known to the general public, especially due to Lina Wetmuller's film "[[I Basilischi]]" (1963). It carries a double meaning, representing both a large and lazy human lizard and an inhabitant of [[Basilicata]]. The name gained renewed fame through the second chapter of the [[Harry Potter]] saga, where the [[Basilisk]] was a huge and deadly mythological serpent. The Basilischi adopted this name as a symbol of their origins and their dangerous nature.<ref name="history" /> |
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On 22 April 1999, 84 orders for pre-trial custody were issued by the Prosecutor's Office in Potenza. That started what became known as the "maxi-trial", which jailed the main figures of the Basilischi and demonstrated their existence and strength in Basilicata.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/633694|title=Fifth Column: Italy's Fifth Mafia, the Basilischi|first=Anna |last=Sergi}}</ref> The maxi-trial concluded in 2007, with a 700-page summation by the judges and the sentencing of 26 people for mafia association to a total of 242 years in prison. In a ruling dated 30 October 2012, the Court of Appeal of Potenza confirmed the existence of the Basilischi.<ref>[https://books.google.it/books?id=8MlCDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA646&lpg=PA646&dq=Il+30+ottobre+2012+la+Corte+d%27appello+di+Potenza+ha+confermato+la+sussistenza+del+clan+mafioso+dei+%E2%80%9CBasilischi%E2%80%9D.&source=bl&ots=VUckt6aJy1&sig=ACfU3U3iR5o2moO0ECuZz44urRNDoKP_zw&hl=it&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_2eDnl87nAhXmw8QBHdZmAT0Q6AEwAXoECAoQAQ#v=onepage&q=Il%2030%20ottobre%202012%20la%20Corte%20d'appello%20di%20Potenza%20ha%20confermato%20la%20sussistenza%20del%20clan%20mafioso%20dei%20%E2%80%9CBasilischi%E2%80%9D.&f=false ''La mafia dell'antimafia prima parte'' pag. 646]</ref> |
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==History and Evolution== |
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[[Basilicata]], a land ripe for conquest by [[mafia]] organizations in the wake of the [[1930 Irpinia earthquake|Irpinia Earthquake]] reconstruction, became a business opportunity for traditional mafia groups, particularly the [['Ndrangheta]], in the early 1990s. This was due to the [[Fiat]] industry in the [[Vulture (region)|Vulture]] area and oil extraction in [[Val'd Agri oil field|Val d'Agri]]. |
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The conviction of many high-profile members of the clan caused the group to become fractured and fall further under the influence of the more powerful [[Calabria]]n-based [['Ndrangheta]].<ref name="history" /> |
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Similar to the story of the [[Sacra Corona Unita]], the disorganized local criminal activity actively collaborated in the illicit dealings of mafia organizations, even trying to emulate them from an organizational standpoint to maximize criminal activity benefits. In 1991, there was an initial attempt to establish the "Nuova Famiglia Lucana," which, however, failed due to political and judicial repression and delayed approval from the 'Ndrangheta. The 'Ndrangheta was using Basilicata as a refuge for fugitives, a hiding place for hostages, and a recruitment center to pursue criminal activities in the region, connecting with almost all indigenous criminal groups. |
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In 1994, there was a turning point: Giovanni Luigi Cosentino, known as "Gino 'o faccia d'angelo," began recruiting members for the new unified organization from the prison in [[Potenza]], which had received the blessing of the 'Ndrangheta, particularly from the Morabito of [[Africo]] Nuovo and the Pesce and Serraino families of [[Rosarno]]. |
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The Basilischi developed their core business, [[narcotics trafficking]], by acquiring drug shipments from the [[Giuseppe Morabito|Morabito family]] in Africo and the De Luca family in [[Crotone]]. They quickly established a dominant role in the [[drug trade]] throughout [[Basilicata]]. Through the use of violence, Cosentino and his associates aimed to monopolize [[extortion]], [[Contract|public contracts]], [[arms trafficking]], and the crucial electoral market. This project faced resistance and hostility from other criminal clans operating in the region, such as the Martorano clan in [[Potenza]], the Zito clan in [[Montescaglioso]], and the Scarcia clan in [[Policoro]]. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Latest revision as of 02:18, 20 September 2024
The Basilischi (Italian: [baziˈliski]) was an organized crime group based in Basilicata, Southern Italy, officially formed in 1994 by Giovanni Luigi Cosentino in Potenza. According to the national anti-mafia prosecutor's office, the areas with Basilischi strongholds are those of Policoro, Montalbano Jonico, Pisticci, Scanzano Jonico, the Val d'Agri and the Vulture region.[1][2][3][4]
On 22 April 1999, 84 orders for pre-trial custody were issued by the Prosecutor's Office in Potenza. That started what became known as the "maxi-trial", which jailed the main figures of the Basilischi and demonstrated their existence and strength in Basilicata.[5] The maxi-trial concluded in 2007, with a 700-page summation by the judges and the sentencing of 26 people for mafia association to a total of 242 years in prison. In a ruling dated 30 October 2012, the Court of Appeal of Potenza confirmed the existence of the Basilischi.[6]
The conviction of many high-profile members of the clan caused the group to become fractured and fall further under the influence of the more powerful Calabrian-based 'Ndrangheta.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Antonio De Lisa- I Basilischi lucani – La quinta mafia d'Italia".
- ^ "Ascesa e caduta dei Basilischi, la mafia italiana che voleva imitare la 'ndrangheta". 14 June 2016.
- ^ "Mafia: la Basilicata è sempre assediata". 2017.
- ^ "Mafia, 'ndrangheta, camorra: la mappa dei clan". 5 February 2015.
- ^ a b Sergi, Anna. "Fifth Column: Italy's Fifth Mafia, the Basilischi".
- ^ La mafia dell'antimafia prima parte pag. 646