ROSARNO – A woman was ‘punished’ for an affair with her lover from a rival ‘Ndrangheta clan. Francesco Barone, 22, has been arrested in relation to the death of his mother Francesca Bellocco, who was killed August 2013 and whose body was never found. For this reason Barone is also expected to be charged for hiding the body.

 Both have been associated with the Bellocco ‘ndrina, a clan of the ‘Ndrangheta, a mafia-like organisation based in Calabria. Based in Rosarno, on the Tyrrhenian coast, the Bellocco clan is considered by many to be one of the most powerful. Francesca Bellocco had been the daughter of now-dead boss Pietro Bellocco. 

 Investigations carried out by district’s anti-mafia organisation (Direzione distrettuale antimafia) suggest that the killing was to serve as a ‘punishment’ for infidelity, as it is believed that that Bellocco had been having an extra-marital affair with Domenico Cacciola, leader of a rival clan of the same name. Given that he disappeared at the same time as Barone’s death, Calabrian police are trying to determine whether Cacciola was also killed. The murder was carried out by a team of hitmen led by Barone, Reggio Calabria police said in a statement.