The crimine is an annual meeting of the
'Ndrangheta
The 'Ndrangheta (, , ) is a prominent Italian Mafia-type organized crime syndicate and secret society, criminal society based in the peninsular and mountainous region of Calabria and dating back to the late 18th century. It is considered one of ...
, a
Mafia
"Mafia" is an informal term that is used to describe criminal organizations that bear a strong similarity to the original “Mafia”, the Sicilian Mafia and Italian Mafia. The central activity of such an organization would be the arbitration of d ...
-type organisation in
Calabria
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. The meeting is held near the
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi, also known as the Sanctuary of Santa Maria di Polsi or Our Lady of the Mountain, is a Christian sanctuary in the heart of the Aspromonte mountains, near San Luca in Calabria, southern Italy. It was founded by Roge ...
in the municipality of
San Luca
San Luca is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Calabria in the Italian region Calabria, located about southwest of Catanzaro and about east of Reggio Calabria. The town is situated on the eastern slopes of the Aspromonte mount ...
during the September Feast.
[Paoli, ''Mafia Brotherhoods'', p. 59] At least since the 1950s, these annual meetings have traditionally served as a forum to discuss future strategies and settle disputes among the ''
locali'' – all the ''
'ndrine'' in a specific town or territory. The assembly exercises weak supervisory powers over the activities of all 'Ndrangheta groups.
[
At the meeting a '']capo crimine A capocrimine is the elected boss of the ''crimine'', an annual meeting of the 'Ndrangheta ''locali'' near the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi in the municipality of San Luca during the September Feast.Paoli, ''Mafia Brotherhoods'', p. 59
At least s ...
'' is elected. Strong emphasis was placed on the temporary character of the position of the ''crimine'' boss. A new representative was elected ''capo crimine'' at each meeting.[ Each head of a '' locale'' is called before the ''crimine'' to give an account of all the activities carried out during the year. He also should communicate the number of new affiliates and punishments to offenders.][
In July 2010, in a massive police operation dubbed "Il crimine", the head of the ''crimine'', ]Domenico Oppedisano Domenico Oppedisano (Rosarno, 5 December 1930) is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria. He is based in Rosarno.
Capo crimine
In August 2009 he was appointed ''capo crimine'', the ceremonial he ...
was arrested. He assumed power at a banquet held at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Polsi in September 2009. In a conversation wiretapped by the police he talked of 1,000 affiliates attending the meeting.[Italian police arrest 300 in raids on Calabrian mafia]
The Guardian, July 13, 2010[Preso il "Vangelo", capo assoluto scelto dalle cosche della 'ndrangheta]
, La Stampa, July 14, 2010
In the course of the investigation the ''capo crimine'' also appeared to be the nominal head of the ‘Ndrangheta Commission, known as ''La Provincia
The ''Camera di Controllo'' (Board of Control), is a collegial body of the 'Ndrangheta, a Mafia-type organisation in Calabria. It is also known as ''La Provincia'' (the Province) or ''Camera di Compensazione'' (compensation board). It is composed o ...
''.[Police Swoop to Round Up ’Ndrangheta]
Corriere della Sera, July 14, 2010
References
*Paoli, Letizia (2003).
Mafia Brotherhoods: Organized Crime, Italian Style
', New York: Oxford University Press
{{Ndrangheta
History of the 'Ndrangheta
Organized crime terminology