Nov 10 2008
Mafia man living in Chorley
A member of the Italian Mafia who has been leading a double life in Chorley has been convicted of drug trafficking.
Giuseppe Persico, 34, who worked for Adlington removals firm Andrew Porter Ltd, was arrested in a swoop by Portuguese police after landing at Faro Airport following the issue of an international warrant.
Andrew Porter Ltd employs 150 people and work colleagues had no idea that Persico was a member of the Naples Mafia known as Camorra and was wanted by the Italian authorities for drug trafficking in Italy.
Lancashire Police have confirmed he was convicted of the offences after his arrest on October 17.
Officers also revealed Persico is a known associate of Gennaro Panzuto – the Mafia godfather who was arrested for four murders, at his home in Catterall, Garstang, in 2007 on an international warrant.
A stunned friend of Persico’s who did not wish to be named, said: “He lived and worked in Chorley for the last two years. He was mates with the man arrested in Catterall.”
Persico is believed to have come to England to live with an English girlfriend. When the relationship broke down he found a job at Andrew Porter Ltd removals firm.
The long established firm employs 150 people and he stopped working for them when he didn’t turn up for work one day.
Through a workmate there he met his former housemate whose mother lent them both cash to rent a house on Geoffrey Street for six months.
Persico is said to have hauled his double bed a mile from his other house in Chorley to the house on Geoffrey Street after becoming annoyed when help to move his belongings did not arrive.
However Persico failed to pay back his housemate’s mum and the pair parted when the six months was up.
Another source, who did not wish to be named, said: “He didn’t seem an outgoing person. He’s been here at least two years, probably more like three.
“Once he borrowed a friend’s car and was caught on four speed cameras in one day – and was banned from driving.”
Unknown to his friends in Chorley, Persico was an associate of Gennaro Panzuto, who has been convicted of four murders connected to a bloody mob war following his extradition to Italy to stand trial.
Panzuto was the head of the powerful Pincirillo clan, part of the Camorra Mafia.
The Camorra is a Mafia-like criminal organisation, or secret society, originating in Naples in Italy.
It is said to finance itself through drug trafficking, extortion, protection and racketeering and its activities have led to high levels of homicide in areas in which it operates.
It is the oldest organized criminal organization in Italy and consists of several different “clans”
During Panzuto’s time as leader his clan became embroiled in a deadly battle between another clan – the Missos – which resulted in the known deaths of 20 people.
Panzuto, then 32, was arrested on suspicion of four killings by officers from the Serious Organised Crime Agency at his £200,000 rented semi-detached house in Cock Robin Lane, Catterall, near Garstang, in May 2007.
Panzuto was living in the village with his wife and young family. Telephone calls made by his family in phone boxes in Italy were traced to Catterall.
Persico’s arrest was as a result of a joint operation involving Lancashire Constabulary and Interpol.
A police spokesman said an investigation was continuing into other criminal activity of known associates of Persico.
Mafia man living in Chorley – Published Date: 10 November 2008 – Chorley Guardian – This story was found at: http://www.chorley-guardian.co.uk/chorley/Mafia-man-living-in-Chorley.4676888.jp
