Francesco Barbaro (Castanu)

Francesco Barbaro

Mugshot of Francesco Barbaro
Born (1927-05-13) May 13, 1927
Platì, Italy
Nationality Italian
Known for U Castanu
Allegiance 'Ndrangheta

Francesco Barbaro (born May 13, 1927 in Platì), also known as U'Castanu, is a boss of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type criminal organisation based in Calabria, Italy. Born in Platì, he is the head of the Barbaro 'ndrina. He was known as the king of kidnapping in the 1980s.[1] He became a member of La Provincia, a provincial commission of the 'Ndrangheta formed at the end of the Second 'Ndrangheta war in September 1991, to avoid further internal conflicts.[2]

'Ndrangheta heritage

Main article: Barbaro 'ndrina

In the 1950s the clan was involved in a bloody feud with the Mammoliti 'ndrina from Castellace in the municipality of Oppido Mamertina. In the end the Mammoliti clan prevailed and the Barbaros moved back to Platì.[3]

Many of the 'Ndrangheta clans in Platì, such as Trimboli, Sergi, Romeo, Zappia, Pappalia and Marando are associated through blood relations, which center around the Barbaro.[4][5]

Platì has been called the "cradle of kidnapping" and it is suspected that kidnap victims were held within a complex network of underground tunnels.[6] The money extorted with kidnappings was invested in drug trafficking and construction in northern Italy, in particularly around Buccinasco, near Milan.[7] The clan participated in a cartel of 'Ndrangheta families involved in cocaine trafficking with the Mafia family of Mariano Agate.[8]

Arrest

He was arrested on January 5, 1989.[1] Over the years, Francesco’s son Giuseppe Barbaro took over the leadership of the clan from his aging father.[9] Giuseppe was included in the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy until his arrest on December 10, 2001.[10] Another son of Francesco, Rocco Barbaro, was arrested on February 8, 2003.[11]

One of his daughters married Giuseppe Pelle, one of the four sons of Antonio Pelle, the 'Ndrangheta boss from San Luca, securing a tight alliance between these two powerful 'ndrine.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 (Italian) Catturato un boss dell'Anonima, La Repubblica, January 6, 1989
  2. ↑ (Italian) Sentenza procedimento penale Olimpia, Tribunale di Reggio Calabria, January 19, 1999
  3. ↑ (Italian) Esposizione introduttiva del Pubblico ministero nel processo nei confronti di Giulio Andreotti, Direzione Distrettuale Antimafia Palermo, 1994
  4. ↑ (Italian) Relazione annuale sulla 'ndrangheta, Commissione parlamentare di inchiesta sul fenomeno della criminalità organizzata mafiosa o similare, February 2008
  5. ↑ (Italian) Gratteri & Nicaso, Fratelli di Sangue, p. 123
  6. ↑ Vast underground Mafia stronghold found in Calabria, The Independent, July 31, 2002
  7. ↑ (Italian) Ma fu Ierinò a parlare di regia unica, La Repubblica, September 20, 1992
  8. ↑ (Italian) Italia. Uno degli affari di Cosa Nostra e 'Ndrangheta insieme, ADUC droghe, May 30, 2003
  9. ↑ (Italian) Gratteri & Nicaso, Fratelli di Sangue, p. 124
  10. ↑ (Italian) Preso Barbaro il superlatitante, La Repubblica, December 11, 2001
  11. ↑ (Italian) In manette Rocco Barbaro, La Repubblica, February 8, 2003
  12. ↑ (Italian) Morto Antonio Pelle, "patriarca" di San Luca, Gazzetta del Sud, November 5, 2009
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