ROME - The Casamonica mafia clan takes a massive blow as 31 members are arrested and six other wanted persons are being tracked down by the Carabinieri, police sources announce.

 Between Rome and the provinces of Reggio Calabria, the military are carrying out the precautionary measures of the 37, 31 of whom are already in prison, issued by the investigating judge of Rome at the request of the local anti-mafia unit.

 They have been charged with working together to create an organisation dedicated to drug-trafficking, extortion, usury and illegal loans following the clear blueprint of Mafia methodology.

 At the crack of dawn on Tuesday morning, 250 Provincial Command carabinieri along with the sniffer dog unit, a military helicopter and the soldiers of the Lazio eight regiment carried out the arrests of the 31 associated with the Casamonica clan.

 The investigation leading up to the arrests found Giuseppe Casamonica to be the head of the organisation – a man who already has ten years of prison on his record.

 For now, the 31 arrested are undergoing questioning while the 6 wanted persons are still being sought.

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