CATANIA – Over 30 companies and corporations owned by Sicilian entrepreneur Mario Ciancio Sanfilippo have been seized following alleged ties with mafia associations, official sources said on Tuesday.

 A total empire estimated to be worth 150 million euros has been confiscated by police on order by the Catania Tribunal. Ciancio is being investigated for alleged collusion with mafia-style associations. The businessman has strongly denied any involvement with criminal associations. 

 Daily newspapers “La Sicilia” and “La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno” and tv channels “Antenna Sicilia” and “Telecolor” have all been seized and shut down along with advertising companies, tour operators and properties – all owned by Ciancio.

 Mario Ciancio Sanfilippo is considered the “dominus” of Catania’s economic activity. Ciancio has taken his share on the best deals in Catania, building shopping centres in the city, making it the densest shopping centre hub in Italy.

 The prosecutor accuses Ciancio of using his newspapers as leverage to promote construction deals linked with Sicilian criminal organizations.  

 “I have never had any kind of relationship with mafia-style organizations and my assets are the result of who came before me and my collaborators,” said Ciancio denying all accusations.

 The city of Catania is in turmoil, as both the Italian Federation of Editors and the Order of Journalists have expressed concern.

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