As G7 leaders gather in Puglia, AP explains as a group of women fight the local mafia

(11 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alberobello, Italy - 22 May 2024
1. SOUNDBITE (English) Trisha Thomas, Associated Press: ++PARTIALLY OVERLAID BY SHOTS 2 TO 14++
“In just a few days, the leaders of the G7 nations will be coming here to Puglia in the heel of Italy's boot. Italian Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni would be very happy to show off this beautiful region, with its groves of olive trees, cone roofed houses and spectacular beaches. U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to be in here, French President Emmanuel Macron is coming along with all the other leaders. They are expected to discuss major geopolitical issues including the war in Ukraine and the ongoing war in Gaza. What is not expected to be on their agenda is a discussion about the locally grown mafia, the Sacra Corona Unita. The Sacra Corona Unita is Italy's fourth mafia. Much less well known than Italy's Cosa Nostra, the Ndrangheta in Calabria and the Naples area Camorra. The Sacra Corona Unita is made up of about 30 clans with roughly 3,000 members, almost exclusively men. Their main business is drug trafficking and they recycle the profits through legitimate businesses like tourism. In recent years, a wide variety of women from judges, to prosecutors, to journalists and educators have been the ones who are really challenging the power of the Sacra Corona Unita some of them at enormous personal risk. They have received threats, death threats from the Sacra Corona Unita requiring them to have 24 hour a day police escorts.”

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Borgo Egnazia, Italy - 22 May 2024
2. Olive grove in Borgo Egnazia where G7 will be held

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alberobello, Italy - 22 May 2024
3. Cone-shaped roofs in town of Alberobello in Puglia

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Porto Selvaggio natural park, Italy - 21 May 2024
4. Tree along coastline

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mesagne, Italy - 20 May 2024
5. Sign to entrance to town where Sacro Corona Unita was born in 1981

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lecce, Italy - 22 May 2024
6. People seated
7. Priest walking in historic center of Lecce

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cutrofiano, Italy - 21 May 2024
8. Carla Durante, Head of Anti Mafia force (DIA), Lecce walking into see the Lazzari Castle, confiscated from the Mafia

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lecce, Italy - 22 May 2024
9. Prosecutor Carmen Ruggiero whose life was threatened by a jailed mafioso entering into prison courtroom escorted by three men
10. Bodyguards of Ruggiero
11. Mid of Ruggiero

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lecce, Italy - 20 May 2024
12. Judge Francesca Mariano at Apollo theatre in Lecce with bodyguards standing nearby
13. STILL of Mariano surrounded by police escort

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Borgo Egnazia, Italy - 22 May 2024
14. Pan to road to Borgo Egnazia
STORYLINE:
Puglia is known for its olive groves, white-washed houses and spectacular coastlines that will provide the backdrop when Premier Giorgia Meloni hosts Group of Seven leaders for their annual summit this week.

But the region is also home to the Sacra Corona Unita, Italy’s fourth main organized crime group.

It is far less well-known than Sicily’s Cosa Nostra but just as effective in infiltrating everything, from local businesses to government.

And yet, a remarkable array of women is challenging its power structures at great personal risk.

They are arresting and prosecuting clan members, exposing their crimes and confiscating their businesses, all while working to change local attitudes.

AP Video by Trisha Thomas and Alessandra Tarantino
Production by Trisha Thomas

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