Francesco Vottari (born 16 July 1971 in Locri, Calabria), also known as Cicciu u Frunzu, is a boss of the 'Ndrangheta mafia-style organization from San Luca in Calabria. He is the son of Giuseppe Vottari. He is married to Maria Pelle, the daughter of Antonio Pelle, the capo crimine of the organisation. [1]
He is one of the bosses of the Pelle-Vottari-Romeo clan, involved in a bloody feud with the Strangio-Nirta clan since 1991. Both clans are based in San Luca, and their vendetta is known as the San Luca feud. The conflict received significant public attention on 15 August 2007, when six men belonging to the Pelle-Vottari-Romeo clan were shot dead in their cars in front of a pizzeria near the train station of Duisburg in western Germany.
Italian police drastically heightened security measures in San Luca as a result, and stepped up operations against both clans. Vottari managed to avoid capture in a major police raid on San Luca two weeks after the Duisburg killings. However, he was arrested on 12 October 2007, while he tried to hide under his bed. [2]
On 12 July 2011, the Criminal Court in Locri sentenced Vottari to life imprisonment for the Maria Strangio's killing. [3] [4]
The 'Ndrangheta is an Italian Mafia-type association based in the peninsular region of Calabria and dating back to the 19th century. Although loosely structured, it is considered one of the most powerful organized crime groups in the world. It is characterized by a horizontal structure made up of autonomous clans known as 'ndrine, based almost exclusively on blood ties. Since the 1950s, following wide-scale emigration from Calabria, 'Ndrangheta clans dispersed to other European countries, Australia and the Americas. Currently, its main activity is drug trafficking, but it also deals with arms trafficking, money laundering, racketeering, extortion, and loan sharking.
San Luca is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria in Italy, located about 100 kilometres (62 mi) southwest of Catanzaro and about 35 kilometres (22 mi) east of Reggio Calabria. The town is situated on the eastern slopes of the Aspromonte mountains and in the valley of the Bonamico river. The village has long been known as a stronghold of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type criminal organisation based in Calabria, with an ongoing clan based power struggle dubbed the San Luca feud.
The San Luca feud or Vendetta of San Luca is a long-running conflict between two clans of the 'Ndrangheta crime organisation that began in 1991 in Italy's Calabria region in the village of San Luca.
Antonio Pelle, also known as Ntoni Gambazza, was a historically significant and charismatic 'Ndrangheta boss from San Luca in Calabria. He was the patriarch of the San Luca locale and the 'Ndrangheta capo crimine, the titular head of the organisation, although with little effective power. He reached the rank of vangelo, at the time the highest rank in the organisation.
Giovanni Strangio is a member of the 'Ndrangheta born in Siderno, Calabria. Starting from 2007, he was included on the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy as well as in Germany, Strangio was arrested in Amsterdam on March 12, 2009.
Giuseppe Morabito, nicknamed 'u tiradrittu, is an Italian criminal and a historical boss of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in the region of Calabria, in southern Italy. He hails from Africo in the Locride. He was a fugitive and on the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy from 1992 until his arrest in February 2004.
Giuseppe Nirta was an Italian mobster from San Luca, Calabria who was the boss of the 'Ndrangheta, and the head of the Nirta clan.
Antonio Nirta was a boss of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organization, in the Italian region of Calabria. Together with his brothers Giuseppe, Francesco, and Sebastiano, he ruled San Luca, a stronghold of the 'Ndrangheta.
The Cordì 'ndrina is a clan of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. The 'ndrina is based in Locri, a hotbed of 'Ndrangheta activity.
The Cataldo 'ndrina is a clan of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. This particular 'ndrina is based in Locri, a hotbed of 'Ndrangheta activity. The clan, allied with the Marafioti family, is involved in a long blood feud with the Cordì 'ndrina, from the same town, since the end of the 1960s.
Giuseppe Giorgi is an Italian criminal belonging to the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal organisation in Calabria. After having been a fugitive for 23 years and been included on the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy he was captured in his home town San Luca on 2 June 2017.
Francesco Barbaro, also known as U'Castanu, was a boss of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type criminal organisation based in Calabria, Italy. Born in Platì, he was the head of the Barbaro 'ndrina. He was the son of Francesco Barbaro and Marianna Carbone, who at the beginning of the twentieth century gave rise to the powerful Barbaro 'ndrina, which was later divided into various branches, namely the Castani, the Nigri, the Pillari and the Rosi, with links to all the most important gangs of the 'Ndrangheta.
Sebastiano Romeo, also known as U Staccu, was a historical 'Ndrangheta boss from San Luca in Calabria. His family was allied with others in the Pelle-Romeo-Vottari clan and he was a member of the Vangelo, an exclusive high rank within the 'Ndrangheta.
The Camera di Controllo, is a collegial body of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria in Southern Italy. It is also known as La Provincia or Camera di Compensazione. It is composed of leading 'Ndrangheta members to decide on important questions concerning the organization and settling disputes.
The Pesce 'ndrina is a clan of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. The 'ndrina is based in Rosarno on the Tyrrhenian coast.
Giuseppe Pelle is an Italian criminal from San Luca, and member of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria. He is the son of Antonio Pelle, also known as Ntoni Gambazza, the capo crimine, the ceremonial head of the 'Ndrangheta.
Francesco Pelle, nicknamed Ciccio Pakistan, is an Italian mobster belonging to the Pelle 'ndrina of the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria. Until his arrest in 2021, Pelle was considered to be one of the most dangerous and wanted fugitives in Italy.
The Pelle 'ndrina, also known as the Pelle-Vottari, are a clan of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. They are among the most influential 'ndrine of the 'Ndrangheta having members who regularly reside in the advisory and top management bodies of the organization, in particular in the Ionian mandamento and in the crimine. They are also present in Milan and its metropolitan city.