The Inzerillo Mafia clan (Italian: famiglia Inzerillo) is a historic and influential Sicilian Mafia family based in the Passo di Rigano district of Palermo. Historically, the clan was a dominant force within the Sicilian Cosa Nostra, maintaining extensive international links, particularly with the Gambino crime family in New York City.
Historical Overview and the Second Mafia War
During the 1970s, the Inzerillo clan, led by Salvatore Inzerillo, was central to the international heroin trade, a period often associated with the "Pizza Connection" investigations. Salvatore Inzerillo served as a member of the Sicilian Mafia Commission and was a close ally of Stefano Bontade.
The clan’s status changed drastically during the Second Mafia War (1981–1983), when the Corleonesi faction, led by Salvatore "Totò" Riina, launched a campaign to eliminate rival families. Salvatore Inzerillo was assassinated on May 11, 1981. Following his death, numerous members of the Inzerillo family and their associates were murdered. The survivors were forced into exile in the United States to avoid total extermination. Within Mafia circles, those who fled became known as the "scappati" (the escaped ones).
Exile and Ties to the United States
During their exile, the Inzerillo family integrated into the American Cosa Nostra, specifically under the protection and partnership of the Gambino crime family. The relationship was solidified through both criminal enterprise and intermarriage, creating a transatlantic network that facilitated movement and financial operations between Palermo and New York.
Return to Palermo
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, members of the Inzerillo family began returning to Sicily. This return was reportedly sanctioned by Bernardo Provenzano, who succeeded Riina as the de facto head of Cosa Nostra and favored a policy of "submergence" and reconciliation. The return of the "scappati" was met with internal resistance from some factions of the Corleonesi who remained loyal to Riina's hardline stance against the exiles.
Law Enforcement Operations
The activities and resurgence of the Inzerillo clan have been the subject of several major Italian law enforcement operations:
- Operation Old Bridge (2008): A joint operation between Italian authorities and the FBI that targeted the links between the Inzerillo clan and the Gambino family. The investigation resulted in dozens of arrests and documented the clan’s efforts to re-establish their influence in Palermo’s construction and wholesale markets.
- Operation New Connection (2019): This operation led to the arrest of several high-ranking members, including Tommaso Inzerillo and Francesco Inzerillo. Law enforcement asserted that the clan had successfully reconstructed its power base in Passo di Rigano and was actively coordinating with American counterparts to manage shared economic interests.
The clan is characterized by its resilience and its reliance on blood ties and historical alliances to maintain its position within the complex hierarchy of the Sicilian Mafia.