Denaro’s arrest on January 16 came exactly 30 years and one day after the arrest of his mentor, Toto “The Beast” Reina. It seems significant that after three decades on the run, it was on this date that the government finally managed to nab him. This indicated that the internal organization of the Cosa Nostra was changing and perhaps one of them decided to leave him because he was no longer “useful” to them. Denaro is the last boss who knows all the secrets surrounding the Cosa Nostra terrorist attacks in the early 1990s. So can it be said that he can piece together the scattered pieces of the post-war mafia puzzle. However, it is highly unlikely, so anyone who has any hopes in this regard may be disappointed.
Investigators will take precautions
He is the last known face of the leadership of the Cosa Nostra. Investigators know little about what the current leader looks like and will now be taking extra precautions as they hunt for other Mafia suspects. Denaro was the last of the older generation of Mafia bosses, a bridge between the old and new bosses. He represents the last link between the combative and direct Cosa Nostra of the early 1990s and the silent, business-like Mafia of the 21st century. He was born into a mafia family and was known for his violence. He is the last mafia boss associated with the Corleone generation, a group of mafiosi (led by Riina and Bernardo Provenzano) that essentially waged a war against the Italian state in the early 1990s.
The arrest is a clear victory for the Italian state, but it must be asked why it took so long to find Denaro in Sicily. Her protective cordon has clearly been tough to break through. The police have gradually been able to peel away the layers of encirclement that made it vulnerable – but it took time. Italian police began to rely on both traditional surveillance and more modern digital and telephone intercepts when investigating Mafia networks.
proven efforts
These ultimately proved successful. The end of the Cosa Nostra – or a new era? Denaro’s arrest may have created a crippling vacuum for the Cosa Nostra – but it’s not the end of the Mafia. Denaro’s collapse could also create an opportunity for it to mutate, change and adapt to new business opportunities once again, like a snake shedding its skin. I believe this arrest marks a change in the leadership of the Cosa Nostra. It could be that Denaro was no longer relevant or necessary. It may have outlived its usefulness.
still a big headache
A new generation will already be in place to manage the Cosa Nostra. Many may now declare the Cosa Nostra dead. Obviously, it is not as strong as Italy’s other main organized crime gangs – the Calabrian ‘Ndrangheta and the Neapolitan Camorra, but it is not over either. Even after the fall of Denaro, the Cosa Nostra would continue to operate and continue to be a headache for the Italian economy and the economies of many other European countries. Therefore, the Italian State and European countries must continue their fight against the mafia and organized crime groups and never let their security down.
