Cover

Dedication

To Mamma and Papà

Epigraph

A man alone,

In the privacy of his room.

With all his reasons why.

All his mistakes.

Alone in an empty room,

talking. To the dead.

—GIORGIO CAPRONI

Monday

AOSTA, THE SHADOW OF THE ’NDRANGHETA LOOMS BEHIND THE LOAN SHARKS

They lent money to businessmen and private individuals at dizzying interest rates, only to move in later to seize ownership of property and bank accounts. That was the business model of Domenico “Mimmo” Cuntrera, a native of Soverato with a long criminal record, arrested by the police in the aftermath of an investigation into the murder of Cristiano Cerruti, right-hand man of local builder Pietro Berguet, the owner of Edil.ber.

In the course of a press conference, Police Chief Andrea Costa declared: “We went straight to the core of the organization, thanks to the wide-ranging and thorough investigations carried out by my men, but I can’t add anything more because we’re certain that this is only the tip of the iceberg.”

“There can be no question that Mafia-related organizations have been sinking their roots for years into the territory of the Valle d’Aosta, and I believe that this latest episode brought to light by the police of Aosta simply offers further evidence of that fact,” commented Carabinieri General Gabriele Tosti, of the Turin Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate.

“We’re faced with a direct attack against the decent people of this country. We must redouble our determination not to abandon the businesses of this region to the malicious intent of these Mafia-related organizations,” thundered Judge Baldi from the prosecutor’s office.

Domenico Cuntrera, being held on suspicion of the murder of Cristiano Cerruti, was arrested at the Swiss border after hastily fleeing the Posillipo pizzeria he owns here in Aosta. In the murder suspect’s possession were numerous documents now being examined by investigators. It is thought that Cuntrera is probably associated with an organized crime ’ndrina. The arrest of this man might mark the first real success of law enforcement against the forces of organized crime currently infiltrating our territory.

—GIAMPAOLO GAGLIARDI