Girolamo Molè (; born February 1, 1961, in
Gioia Tauro), also known as Mommo, is an
Italian criminal and a member 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 ...
in
Calabria
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. He is currently serving several life sentences.
He was the son of the historical 'Ndrangheta boss in the Gioia Tauro area, Antonio Molè.
[Vendetta contro il padre, ucciso a 12 anni]
Corriere della Sera, July 15, 1997 The clan has at least one hundred years of history, according to Mommo Molè in an overheard conversation.
Nuova Cosenza, July 23, 2008 The Molè brothers, Girolamo, Domenico and Rocco took over the reins of the clan from their father.
Alliance with Piromalli 'ndrina
The Molè clan was allied with their relatives of the
Piromalli 'ndrina
The Piromalli 'ndrina is one of the most powerful clans of the 'Ndrangheta, a criminal and mafia-type organisation in Calabria, Italy. The 'ndrina is based in Gioia Tauro on the Tyrrhenian coast. The Piromalli's are allied with their relatives of ...
, also from Gioia Tauro. Often they are referred to as a single organisation, the Piromalli-Molè clan. They have an iron grip on many economic activities in the area, in particular over the Gioia Tauro seaport, the largest container terminal in the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
.
[Il caso Gioia Tauro]
Relazione sullo stato della lotta alla criminalità organizzata in Calabria, Commissione parlamentare d'inchiesta sul fenomeno della mafia e delle altre associazioni criminali similari, July 2000
"The Molè family is the military arm of the Piromalli clan," according to
Francesco Forgione, the former chairman of Italian parliament's
Antimafia Commission.
[Top 'Ndrangheta boss gunned down, ANSA, February 1, 2008] Within the Piromalli organization the Molè clan is responsible for drug trafficking and handles relations with 'Ndrangheta branches in central and northern Italy as well as with Colombian drug cartels.
[
]
Arrest
Wanted since 1993 and included on the list of most wanted fugitives in Italy
The list of most wanted fugitives in Italy is a most wanted list published by the Italian Interior Ministry. It includes criminals who are considered extremely dangerous by the Polizia di Stato. The list was started in July 1992. There are also lis ...
, he was arrested on July 12, 1997. At the time he was charged with 49 murders, arms trafficking, drug trafficking and criminal association.[Preso boss della 'ndrangheta; e' accusato di 49 omicidi]
La Repubblica, July 13, 1997 In August 2000, he was convicted to 11 life sentences at the Tirreno trial against the Piromalli-Molè clan.[Clan della Piana, 39 ergastoli e codanne per 500 anni]
Gazzetta del Sud, August 12, 2000
While in jail a turf war between the Piromalli and Molè clans surfaced in February 2008 when Girolamo’s brother, Rocco Molè, was gunned down near Gioia Tauro.['Ndrangheta, agguato a Gioia Tauro, assassinato il boss Rocco Molè]
La Repubblica, February 1, 2008
ANSA, October 13, 2008[ Background of the emerging conflict seems to be the future investments of hundreds of millions of euros in the Gioia Tauro port and the possibilities to take cuts of the investments.]['Ndrangheta, decapitata cosca. Fermati anche alcuni imprenditori]
La Repubblica, July 23, 2008
Crackdown by police
Within 24-hours after the contract was awarded to the rival clan, Rocco Molè, was killed.[ While Girolamo’s brother Domenico wanted to retaliate immediately, proposing to kill all the adversaries, Girolamo was more cautious. He wanted peaceful mediation, reminding his brother of the long alliance and the dangers of an all-out war. “We have one hundred years of history and family ties with the Piromallis that we cannot wipe out,” he was overheard saying from prison.][
Alarmed by the increasing tension, police cracked down on the stranglehold of the 'Ndrangheta on the Gioia Tauro port in July 2008. The operation dubbed "One Hundred Years of History", after the overheard conversation, and netted 18 criminals and businessmen in Calabria, Rome and Milan. The operation intended to end the start of a possibly bloody turf war between the Piromallis and their former military arm, the Molè family.]['Ndrangheta, le mani delle cosche sul porto di Gioia Tauro]
La Stampa, July 23, 2008
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mole, Girolamo
1961 births
'Ndranghetisti
People from Gioia Tauro
Living people
'Ndranghetisti sentenced to life imprisonment