| Strisciuglio clan | |
| Founded: | Late 1990s |
| Founder: | Domenico Strisciuglio |
| Founding Location: | Bari, Apulia, Italia |
| Years Active: | 1990s–present |
| Territory: | Many neighborhoods in Bari, in particular in the northern area of the city. |
| Activities: | Murder, drug trafficking, money laundering, extortion, usury, gambling |
| Rivals: | Capriati clan |
The Strisciuglio clan is a criminal organization, originating from the city of Bari, having its stronghold mainly in the northern area of the city. The clan is considered the most powerful and bloodthirsty criminal organization operating in the Bari area.[1]
The criminal organization was born at the late 1990s as an offshoot of another clan operating in Bari, the Capriati clan. From the beginning, the Strisciuglio clan was commanded by Domenico Strisciuglio, nicknamed "Mimmo la luna" who is in jail from 1999 in the 41 bis regime. In August 2003, Franco Strisciuglio, Mimmo's brother, was killed in an ambush outside his home, at the age of 33. At that time, Franco was considered the number two in the criminal group, after Mimmo, and consequently the most important free member of the clan.[2] In 2021, Vincenzo Strisciuglio, known as Chachino, another brother of Domenico, was sentenced to 7 years and 4 months in prison.[3]
According to the investigators, due to the very restricted regime in which Domenico Strisciuglio finds himself, the reins of the clan would have passed to his brother Sigismondo, known as Gino, who despite having spent years behind bars, was subjected to a less restricted regime compared to the one of Domenico, which would have allowed him to continue managing the clan's affairs. Gino, in fact, after 22 years in prison was released in 2022, however he was arrested again in April 2023 and released in January 2024.[4] [5] [6]
According to the investigators, the main action that characterizes the clan is its strong expansionist vocation, in particular in the creation of new "subgroups", where it can operate with its illicit trafficking and therefore increase the related revenues. Furthermore, the clan's activities are also characterized by an asphyxiating control of the territory which manifests itself through the extortion exercised against numerous small entrepreneurs and artisans. According to the Strisciuglios, they also focus on the activities of the gaming market through the installation of slot machines and video lotteries.[7]
Due to its strong expansionist power, over the years the clan formed "subgroups" that became its representatives in various neighborhoods of the city of Bari, each led by its own leader, based on a territorial division.