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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