PALERMO, Italy, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- A roundup of members and associates of the Mafia "decapitated" several clans in the eastern part of Sicily, a top police officer said Wednesday.
Giampaolo Ganzer, commander of the anti-Mafia task force, said one of the targets of Wednesday's raids was the clan led by Benedetto 'Nitto' Santapaola, who is already in prison, Italian news agency ANSA reported.
"This intervention has wiped out the top levels of Cosa Nostra not only in Catania, involving the powerful Santapaola and Ercolano clans, but also in Ramacca, Caltagirone, Palagonia and Misterbianco,'' Ganzer said.
Arrests took place in Tuscany and the areas around Rome and Venice as well as Sicily, police said. The targets included businessmen and officials.
Charges against the various suspects include conspiracy, homicide, extortion and theft.
Investigators seized a total of $562 million in alleged criminal assets.
Fausto Fagone, a member of the Sicilian regional assembly, was one of the most prominent people arrested. Sicilian Gov. Raffaele Lombardo was notified that he is under investigation.
