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58-1085: The Siderno crime group operates throughout Canada, the United States, Australia and Europe and is composed of a group of families who are related by blood or marriage. Siderno is home to one of the 'Ndrangheta's biggest and most important clans, the Commisso 'ndrina , involved in the global cocaine business and money laundering. According to the Siderno police force, "The criminal minds of Siderno are in Canada." The group has moved narcotics over three continents. They had contacts in Bolivia, Venezuela, Brazil, Chile and Peru, and had permanent representation in Colombia for drugs and in Costa Rica and Panama for money laundering. Its key man in Colombia, Roberto Pannunzi ,

116-718: A boss of one of 10 'Ndrangheta clans in Ontario, based in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and London, and on the Camera di Controllo , died in 2011 of natural causes in Toronto at the age of 86. Rocco Remo Commisso, nephew of Michele Racco, and brother of Cosimo "The Quail" Commisso , has also been named as high-ranking in Canadian police reports. In June 2018, Cosimo Ernesto Commisso ("Coco"), of Woodbridge, Ontario and an unrelated woman were shot and killed. According to sources contacted by

174-1115: A criminal organization. Also in mid-July, the related investigation in Italy led to the arrest of 12 people in the Siderno Group in Calabria. The 12 are "closely associated to the Canadian branch of the operation,” according to Fausto Lamparelli of the Italian State Police. On 9 August 2019, as part of the same joint investigation, several former Greater Toronto Area residents were arrested in Calabria, including Giuseppe (Joe) DeMaria, Francesco Commisso, Rocco Remo Commisso, Antonio Figliomeni and Cosimo Figiomeni. Cousins of DeMaria, Giuseppe Gregaraci and his cousin Vincenzo Muià had visited Toronto on March 31, 2019, to meet with Angelo and Cosimo Figliomeni, seeking answers to who had ambushed and killed Muià's brother, Carmelo "Mino" Muià, in Siderno on January 18, 2018; Muià's smartphone

232-528: A half years and 21 years, respectively. The judge who sentenced the three Commisso brothers in 1982, Justice Gregory Evans, stated: "This is a gangster case. It is a contract killing case and we can feel little clemency or mercy with those involved in this case." During his time at the Kingston penitentiary, Rocco Remo Commisso worked in the prison library and was considered to be one of the more well read and intelligent prisoners at Kingston. Antonio Commisso

290-587: A key player in the import of cocaine from Colombia for a cartel of 'Ndrangheta clans in collaboration with Roberto Pannunzi , who brokered the deals in Latin America . He was also involved in trafficking heroin from Turkey , smuggled in by fishing boats controlled by the Coluccio-Aquino 'Ndrina in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica . He is a cousin of Rocco Aquino and Giuseppe Aquino, the bosses of

348-532: A member of the Coluccio clan, was arrested on August 7, 2008, outside a strip mall in Markham , Ontario , north of Toronto. He had been hiding in Canada for nearly three years under a false identity and was wanted for drug related offences, charges of Mafia association and extortion. He was extradited from Canada to Italy on August 19, 2008, and incarcerated under the strict Article 41-bis prison regime . Also from

406-692: A number of businesses in Hamilton, including bakeries. While in prison, he orchestrated the murder of Domenic Racco, who violated their cocaine trade agreement by dealing behind Musitano's back, and also owed the Musitano family as much as $ 500,000. Racco was also arrested in February 1982 and charged in connection with a cocaine-trafficking conspiracy and was awaiting trial. Tony Musitano befriended inmate Billy Rankin at Millhaven Institution in Kingston who

464-405: A traditional 'Ndrangheta family. Before he reached his teens, his father Vincenzo, was murdered in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica during a bloody feud that ravaged competing 'Ndrangheta Mazzaferro clan , in contrast to the clan Aquino. The clan survived and eventually rose to prominence under the leadership of Giuseppe Coluccio. The clan achieved an "unbreakable" monopoly on the sale of fish through

522-510: A widow and three sons Rocco Remo, Cosimo and Michele who vowed to avenge their father. In 1961, the Commisso brothers moved to Canada , settling in Toronto , but did not forget their father. The murder of Girolamo Commisso was never solved, but it was believed to have been the work of two assassins, Salvatore Scarfo and Michale Alberti, both of whom fled to Argentina afterwards. Siderno

580-458: A wire, Kirby went to the house of Rocco Remo Commisso on 16 May 1981 to tell him: "Volpe, he's dead...I just killed him a hour ago". In fact, Volpe and his wife were in hiding at the RCMP's Toronto office. Commisso asked for proof that Kirby had indeed killed Volpe, leading him to produce Volpe's wallet with his driver's license in it, which Kirby said he had taken from his corpse. After looking over

638-556: A year, Antonio Commisso was arrested at his residence on June 28, 2005 in Woodbridge, Ontario , on an extradition warrant issued in Canada at the request of the Italian government. The federal government was already taking steps to have Commisso permanently deported from the country. In April 2014, Cosimo Commisso was linked to Laborers' International Union of North America Local 183. Antonio Coluccio of Richmond Hill, Ontario

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696-477: Is also an influential figure in Siderno. In 1982, Alberti returned to Siderno and was promptly murdered while eating at the patio terrace of the Gourmet restaurant. Amongst the patrons eating at the Gourmet were a dozen men from Toronto with links to the three Commisso brothers. One of the men present at the Gourmet, Vincenzo "Jimmy" DeLeo, upon his return to Canada visited the Commisso brothers being held at

754-456: Is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta , a Mafia -type organisation in Calabria . He was a fugitive and included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy from 2005 until his capture on 7 August 2008, in Toronto , Ontario, Canada. Coluccio was born in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica , a seaside town on southern Italy's Ionian coast . He was the first of three sons born into

812-600: Is based in Siderno , but also has a branch in the Greater Toronto Area in Canada as part of the Siderno Group . The Commisso clan is involved in international drug trafficking using family ties in Italy, Canada, the United States and Australia. Girolamo Commisso was a sgarrista in the 'Ndrangheta in Siderno , making him a mid-ranking figure, until his murder in 1948. Girolamo Commisso left behind

870-521: The Aquino 'ndrina in the town. He became a fugitive in 2005 when he fled for Canada due to charges on drug trafficking in relation to an operation by the Italian police arresting 30 people (Operation Nostromo), that also included his brother Salvatore Coluccio. Leading 'Ndrangheta bosses around Toronto were told to expect the Coluccios before they arrived. His youngest brother, Antonio Coluccio, who

928-543: The Cotroni crime family in Montreal. By 1962, Racco established a crimini and Camera di Controllo in Canada with the help of Giacomo Luppino and Rocco Zito . Salvatore Triumbari and Filippo Vendemini were also co-founders until Racco sanctioned their murders in 1967 and 1969 respectively, due to disputes. Racco had been urged to start the Canadian operation by Antonio Macrì , the undisputed boss of Siderno until he

986-523: The Kingston penitentiary; he denies that he discussed the murder of the man who killed their father with them. In the 1980s, the Commisso were challenged by the Costa 'ndrina over the command of Siderno. The Costas had returned from Toronto . By 1991, the feud – that spilled over to Toronto as well – ended in a victory for the Commisso clan. Officially, there were 28 dead among the Costas and eight among

1044-507: The Toronto Star , "Commisso was related to Cosimo "The Quail" Commisso of Siderno, Italy, who has had relations in Ontario, is considered by police to be a "'Ndrangheta organized crime boss". The National Post reported that Cosimo Ernesto Commisso, while not a known criminal, "shares a name and family ties with a man who has for decades been reputed to be a Mafia leader in the Toronto area". The cousin of "The Quail", Antonio Commisso ,

1102-501: The Toronto Star , "Commisso was related to "The Quail" of Siderno, Italy, who has had relations in Ontario, is considered by police to be a "'Ndrangheta organized crime boss". The National Post reported that Cosimo Ernesto Commisso, while not a known criminal, "shares a name and family ties with a man who has for decades been reputed to be a Mafia leader in the Toronto area". Giuseppe Coluccio Giuseppe Coluccio ( Italian: [dʒuˈzɛppe koˈluttʃo] ; born 12 April 1966)

1160-675: The York Regional Police announced the largest organized crime bust in Ontario, part of an 18-month long operation called Project Sindicato that was also coordinated with the Italian State Police . York Regional Police had arrested 15 people in Canada and seized $ 35 million worth of homes, sports cars and cash in a major trans-Atlantic probe targeting the most prominent wing of the 'Ndrangheta in Canada, allegedly headed by Angelo Figliomeni. On July 14 and 15, approximately 500 officers raided 48 homes and businesses across

1218-424: The "power of intimidation" that was so strong the fisherman declared it a "law" that they answered to the clan, according to Italian Antimafia prosecutor Nicola Gratteri in a dossier for Canadian authorities. Proceeds from the monopoly were invested in a "vast drug-trafficking operation in cocaine." His first arrest for drug dealing and trafficking was in 1991. Since then, various investigations identified him as

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1276-676: The 'Ndrangheta formed at the end of the Second 'Ndrangheta war in September 1991, to avoid further internal conflicts. The Commissos are known to have links with the Secondigliano Alliance , considered by the authorities the most powerful Camorra group that is still active. Both organizations are allied in the trafficking and sale of cocaine and marijuana from South America, via the Netherlands. In 1993, Cosimo Commisso

1334-548: The 'Ndrangheta group. By 1976, Cosimo Commisso was considered by the police to be a capo bastone (underboss) in the Siderno group. By the early 1980s, Zito was boss of the Toronto Siderno Group after the death of Michele Racco. Racco's son Domenic Racco also filled his void briefly. In January 1983, Anthony Musitano of the Hamilton -based Musitano crime family was sentenced to 15 years in prison for bombing

1392-399: The 'Ndrangheta in Toronto" according to York Regional Police. The charges were stayed after an investigation "into the use of the privileged conversations" that found "improper use of wiretapping" and "significant breaches of solicitor-client privilege ". All property seized by police must now be returned — with the exception of illegal possessions. The Australian version of the Siderno Group

1450-739: The 1970s, the Commissos had put together a criminal enterprise that "rivalled the best of the Sicilian Mafia structures existing in the United States and which was, in terms of pure muscle and audacity, one of the most powerful mafia groups in Canada". They "controlled a criminal organization that imported and distributed heroin with the Vancouver mob and the Calabrian Mafia in Italy, fenced stolen goods across North America, printed and distributed counterfeit money throughout Canada and

1508-409: The Canadian immigration officials at Montréal–Trudeau International Airport , and the Canadian authorities had no choice but to admit him because he had been granted permanent residency status in Canada in 1974, when he was 18. According to the Siderno police force, "the criminal minds of Siderno are in Canada". After being on the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy , living in Canada for more than

1566-467: The Commissos. Cosimo Commisso was sentenced over the vendetta and his cousin Antonio Commisso, also known as l'avvocatu ("the lawyer"), succeeded him as the acting boss of the clan. The Commissos are one of the 'Ndrangheta's biggest and most important clans, involved in the global cocaine business and money laundering. They were members of Camera di controllo , a provincial commission of

1624-481: The GTA, seizing 27 homes worth $ 24 million, 23 cars, including five Ferraris , and $ 2 million in cash and jewelry. Nine of the 15 arrests in Canada included major crime figures: Angelo Figliomeni, Vito Sili, Nick Martino, Emilio Zannuti, Erica Quintal, Salvatore Oliveti, Giuseppe Ciurleo, Rafael Lepore and Francesco Vitucci. The charges laid included tax evasion, money laundering, defrauding the government and participating in

1682-620: The Greater Toronto Area, Giuseppe's brother Antonio Coluccio (who had used the alias Giuseppe Scarfo in Canada) was one of 29 people named in arrest warrants in Italy in September 2014. Police said they were part of the Commisso 'ndrina ('Ndrangheta) crime family in Siderno . In July 2018, Coluccio was sentenced to 30 years in prison for corruption. His two brothers, Giuseppe and Salvatore, were already in prison in Italy on Mafia-related convictions. Cosimo Stalteri, considered to be

1740-404: The Toronto 'Ndranghetisti Michele "Mike" Racco , but moved closer to another 'Ndranghetisti Rocco Zito during the 1970s; Zito was a pallbearer at Racco's funeral in 1980. Zito was known as an advocate of closer ties with the Montreal underworld, a stance shared by the Commisso brothers, while Racco wanted to keep a distance from the Montreal underworld. Racco sat on La Camera di Controllo ,

1798-535: The United States, ran a vast extortion network in Ontario, arranged insurance and land frauds in the Toronto area, and engaged in contract killings and contract-enforcement work across Canada and the United States – the whole gamut of violent criminal activities one usually associates with the Mafia". The Satan's Choice MC hitman Cecil Kirby who worked for Cosimo Commisso in Canada from 1976–81 wrote in his 1986 autobiography Mafia Enforcer : "Cosimo wasn't tough-he

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1856-412: The aforementioned Francesco Commisso "the quail", Antonio Macrì's shoulder guard, who assumed command of the locale Siderno , making the 'ndrina Commisso, the family that today bears his name, one of the most influential in the 'Ndrangheta . The hitman Cecil Kirby in his 1986 autobiography Mafia Enforcer described Francesco Commisso as the father of Cosimo Commisso. Giuseppe Commisso ( u mastru )

1914-434: The board north of Toronto has the authority to make decisions, not only in relation to Canada's underworld, but also abroad, even back in Siderno". The three Commisso brothers arrived in Toronto in 1961, but the police first began to pay attention to them in 1970 when Rocco Remo Commisso was accused of using intimidation to win orders for a bakery owned by one of his uncles. The Commisso brothers were at first associated with

1972-806: The board of control for 'Ndrangheta clans, comprising six or seven Toronto-area men, who co-ordinate activities and resolves disputes among Calabrian gangsters in Southern Ontario. He also aligned himself with members of the Sicilian Mafia , in particular with Giuseppe Big Joe Cuntrera, a member of the Cuntrera-Caruana Mafia clan operating in Canada and Venezuela and involved in large scale cocaine trafficking. Police allege Coluccio continued trafficking "substantial quantities" of cocaine and hashish from South America while he

2030-405: The board that governed 'Ndranghta activities in Toronto, making him one of the most important 'Ndranghetisti in Canada. During visits to his hometown of Siderno in 1971 and again in 1972, Rocco was the target of assassination attempts, being fired upon during both visits. By 1976, Cosimo Commisso was considered by the police to be a capo bastone (underboss) in the Siderno group. By the end of

2088-592: The period in which he was under house arrest since 2015 in Perugia . On 30 January 2020, Commisso was definitively acquitted of the murders by the Supreme Court of Cassation . On 9 August 2019, several former Greater Toronto Area residents were arrested in Calabria, including Francesco Commisso and Rocco Remo Commisso. By that time, police in Italy and in Canada were convinced that "the 'Ndrangheta's Canadian presence has become so powerful and influential that

2146-608: The plot was foiled when Kirby turned Royal Canadian Mounted Police informant. Volpe, who had a reputation for being devious and treacherous, had involved the Commissos in a real estate deal and cheated them, causing them to vow vengeance. During a conversation on 31 March 1981, Commisso told Kirby that he needed the approval of an unnamed higher authority before he could give the orders to kill Volpe. When Kirby asked "What about Volpe?", Commisso replied: "I'm waiting for an answer, OK?" On 23 April 1981, Commisso told Kirby that Scarcella could not be killed until he received permission from

2204-545: The sympathy are in fact planning to kill the seeming object of their affection, and Kirby was disturbed by the number of times Commisso told him that he was almost family to him and his brothers. As a result of Kirby's testimony, Rocco Remo and Cosimo Commisso were convicted of conspiracy to murder, counselling to commit murder, possession of property obtained by crime, conspiracy to commit extortion, counselling another person to commit an indictable offence, causing bodily harm, and conspiracy to commit fraud, and sentenced to 14 and

2262-532: The top of the criminal world" with "an unbreakable umbilical cord" to Calabria. The report stated that there were seven senior 'Ndrangheta bosses in the Greater Toronto Area, some on the Camera di Controllo , the "board of directors". The Toronto-area Siderno group has included the Coluccio , Tavernese, DeMaria , Figliomeni, Ruso, and Commisso crime families; Leaders are based both in Calabria and Ontario. Carmine Verduci and Cosimo Stalteri were also linked with

2320-417: The unnamed authority, but he had the approval to kill Volpe. Commisso stated: "Ah, Scarcella, forget about it for now. Just don't worry about it for now", leading Kirby to ask "For how long?". Commisso replied: "A month, two months, we don't know yet. There's another guy". When Kirby asked "What the fuck is going on?", Commisso answered: "There's another guy I want you to take care of instead of him." Wearing

2378-399: The wallet, Commisso was finally satisfied that Kirby had killed Volpe. After complaining that he should not have come to his house, Commisso paid Kirby $ 1,000, and said he would have more money for him soon. Commisso repeatedly assured Kirby that he and his brothers "would take care" of him. In organized crime, excessive displays of affection and loyalty are often a sign that those displaying

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2436-642: Was extradited from Canada to Italy on 20 August 2008, and incarcerated under the strict Article 41-bis prison regime . His arrest was part of a larger law enforcement operation in the US, Mexico and Italy – known as Operation Solare or Project Reckoning in the US – against the Mexican Gulf Cartel that controls the movement of significant amounts of Colombian cocaine to the United States and Europe. The operation resulted in some 200 arrests in September 2008. Among those detained were sixteen members of

2494-583: Was arrested in Medellin , Colombia in 1994. In the past, he had been in charge of heroin shipments from Turkey through Italy to the United States. In Canada, in particular in the Greater Toronto Area , a branch of the Siderno Group has been active since the 1950s. Until 1980, the head of the Group was Michele (Mike) Racco . He maintained close contacts with the Luppino crime family in Hamilton, Ontario and with

2552-498: Was arrested, and later convicted of five murders and three attempted murders between May 1989 and July 1991, and sentenced to life imprisonment in 1998. After 26 years in prison, on 9 January 2019, the Court of Appeal of Naples acquitted Commisso in a review process "for not having committed the offense", releasing him immediately. On 13 December 2019, Commisso was arrested in the "Core Business" operation, accused of mafia association for

2610-427: Was at the centre of a criminal business such as drug trafficking, cigarette smuggling, extortion, and gambling. The organisation managed to gain high levels of income from these activities in Canada, but the affiliated persons used to maintain tight links with the small and poor town of Siderno. In fact the organisation of the group was controlled from Siderno or in accordance with clans based there. Giuseppe Coluccio ,

2668-483: Was due to be released in December that year. Giuseppe Avignone, nephew of Tony and Domenic Musitano, often visited Tony in prison to discuss details of the plot, which were secretly recorded by the police. Rankin was released on December 7, and given "the okay" by Domenic Musitano. On December 10, 1983, Racco got into a car in front of his Mississauga apartment with Rankin, Domenic Musitano and Peter Majeste, thinking it

2726-437: Was first arrested in 1999. While awaiting appeal, he regularly had to report to police, was subject to a strict night-time curfew, and was prohibited from leaving town. On April 15, 2004, Commisso was definitively convicted and sentenced to seven years and 10 months for Mafia association and trafficking in weapons. When police arrived at his home to arrest him, he was nowhere to be found. On May 14, 2004, he presented himself to

2784-526: Was homicidal. He'd kill you as soon as you were looking at him if he thought you were crossing him, if he thought it was good for business, or if he thought you insulted him or his family. The lives of other people meant nothing to him". In the 1980s, the Buffalo crime family also operated in Toronto and Hamilton , and hired Kirby to kill Paul Volpe and his driver Pietro Scarcella in an arrangement with Rocco Remo and Cosimo Commisso, for $ 20,000. However,

2842-508: Was involved in drug and arms trafficking as well as money laundering. In the Australian case too, businesses were carried out in very tight relation with the Siderno families or families coming from the surroundings of the town. Commisso %27ndrina The Commisso 'ndrina ( Italian: [komˈmisso, ˈkɔmmisso] ) is a powerful clan of the 'Ndrangheta , a criminal and mafia-type organization in Calabria , Italy . The 'ndrina

2900-514: Was killed in January 1975. Michele Racco died of cancer in January 1980. A May 2018 news report explained the group's initial involvement in Canada. "Siderno's Old World 'Ndrangheta boss sent acolytes to populate the New World" including Michele Racco who settled in Toronto in 1952, followed by other mob families. According to investigators in Italy, by 2010, Toronto's 'Ndrangheta had climbed "to

2958-530: Was later sentenced in Italy to 16 years and 8 months in prison for his role in the "Canadian Connection", in March 2021. In 2020, the charges laid against three individuals as a result of Project Sindicato were "stayed" (the prosecution discontinued), unless the prosecutors could find new evidence and proceeded with the charges again within one year. In January 2021, the charges against the remaining six were also stayed, including that of Angelo Figliomeni, "the head of

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3016-403: Was living in Canada. Coluccio was arrested on 7 August 2008, outside a strip mall in Markham , Ontario , north of Toronto . He stayed at The Palace Pier , a luxury condominium overlooking Lake Ontario . He had been hiding in Canada for nearly three years under the false identity of "Giuseppe Scarfo", and was wanted for drug related offences, charges of Mafia association and extortion. He

3074-536: Was not facing charges in Italy at the time, arrived first and settled with his Canadian wife (Melina, daughter of mob boss Carmelo Bruzzese ) in Richmond Hill, Ontario —a member of the Siderno Group who later faced Mafia related charges in Italy in 2014 after leaving Canada in 2010, and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2018 for corruption. Coluccio entered on the powerful Camera di controllo –

3132-476: Was on the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his capture on June 28, 2005, in Woodbridge. By mid-2019, Police in Italy and in Canada were convinced that "the ’Ndrangheta’s Canadian presence has become so powerful and influential that the board north of Toronto has the authority to make decisions, not only in relation to Canada’s underworld, but also abroad, even back in Siderno". On July 18, 2019,

3190-435: Was one of 29 people named in arrest warrants in Italy in September 2014. Police said they were part of the Commisso 'ndrina. In July 2018, Coluccio was sentenced to 30 years in prison for corruption in Italy. His two brothers were already in prison due to Mafia-related convictions. On June 28, 2018, Cosimo Ernesto Commisso, of Woodbridge, Ontario and an unrelated female were shot and killed. According to sources contacted by

3248-613: Was the fiefdom of Antonio Macrì the undisputed boss at the time. In January 1975, Macrì was killed in the First 'Ndrangheta war . His right-hand man – who was wounded in Macrì's killing – Francesco Commisso, known "Cicciu I quagghia" ("the quail"). At Macrì death, his successor was his nephew Vincenzo Macrì, known as u Baruni , who became the head of the locale Siderno . But his succession did not last long. Very soon another young man distinguished himself for charisma, Cosimo Commisso, son of

3306-504: Was to discuss a potential drug trade, but was taken to a railway track and killed. In March 1984, Domenic and Tony Musitano, Avignone and Rankin were arrested. Domenic Musitano received six years for being an accessory after the fact to murder. Anthony Musitano, already in prison on the bombing charges, was sentenced to 12 years concurrently, Avignone got five years and Rankin was sentenced to 12 years, all three pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. The Siderno mob in Southern Ontario

3364-623: Was unwittingly and secretly transmitting his closed-door conversations to authorities in Italy. According to Italian police reports, the two men were picked up from Pearson International Airport by Luigi Vescio, a funeral home director in the Greater Toronto Area, where they were taken to Angel's Bakery, a family business of DeMaria's. They were also taken to meet with Joe DeMaria. Joe DeMaria and Vescio then drove to Kingston to visit his brother Vincenzo DeMaria in prison. When Muià and Gregaraci returned to Italy, they were arrested, and in January 2020, Gregaraci committed suicide in his prison cell. Muià

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