Italian police continue to close the circle around Sicilian Mafia boss of bosses Matteo Messina Denaro who has been on the run since 1993. A massive police operation today captured 30 people with links to Denaro which included his sister , nephew, and three of his cousins. Authorities believe these relatives maintain contact with Messina Denaro and help him run the Sicilian Mafia based in Trapani and the surrounding area’s. They have provided him with a web of protection that is now dismantled according to Mario Parente an Italian Police senior official. Parente said that Italian authorities have never been so close as they are now to capturing Messina Denaro and this latest operation was one of the most important of recent Anti-Mafia efforts against the Cosa Nostra boss.

“Matteo Messina Denaro”

Matteo Messina Denaro is believed to have taken over as the Sicilian Mafia boss of bosses after the 2006 capture of former boss Bernardo Provenzano. Despite his fugitive status and being on run Italian authorities believe he remains in full control and active as the top ranking Cosa Nostra boss. Since 2009 Anti-Mafia efforts have lead to asset seizures of more the $4 billion dollars from suspected associates and businesses fronting for the Mafia boss. Authorities believe the seizures of these businesses, properties, and bank accounts may cause a otherwise loyal associate to betray the mob boss. The economic and financial activities are extremely important to Messina Denaro and cutting them off is a major step in leading to his capture according to Italian police.

The ruthless Sicilian Mafia boss has been convicted of several Mafia related crimes among them the murder of a 13 year old son of a turncoat mobster. Giuseppe Di Matteo the 13 year old son of former mobster Santino Di Matteo was abducted because his father became an informant on orders from Matteo Messina Denaro. The kid was held for almost two years before being strangled in 1996 and his body dissolved in acid.