President Meloni’s statement on the arrest of Matteo Messina Denaro

“This is a great victory for the state, showing that it does not give up in the face of the mafia”, commented President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni on the news of the arrest of Matteo Messina Denaro. “The day after the anniversary of Totò Riina’s arrest, another organised crime boss has been brought to justice. My sincerest thanks, along with those of the entire Government, go to the police forces, and in particular the ‘ROS’ [Special Operations Group] of the Carabinieri, to the National Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office and to the Palermo Public Prosecutor’s Office, for the capture of the most significant exponent of mafia-related crime. The Government – continued President Meloni – ensures that the fight against the mafia will continue unabated, as shown by the fact that the first measure we introduced (defending the hard prison regime for mafia convicts) referred precisely to this issue”. 

[Courtesy translation]