Matteo Messina Denaro's Arrest: Unraveling Questions and Intrigues

A year after the capture of Matteo Messina Denaro, the celebration of a significant victory for the state is unquestionable. However, the twelve months following his arrest raise compelling questions about his long-standing evasion and eventual capture. Let's delve into some of these inquiries.

Rosalia's Role:
The operation leading to Messina Denaro's arrest, named "Tramonto," officially commenced on December 6, 2022. Carabinieri entered the home of his sister, Rosalia, to place new microphones. They discovered a note rolled up in the leg of a chair detailing the health conditions of the ailing boss. The curiosity arises: why would the paranoid Rosalia, aware of surveillance, keep this note? Dated a year prior, it holds no operational information but serves as a quick personal record of her brother's medical interventions.

Police Involvement:
The delicate aspect remains the role of the State Police. Messina Denaro's arrest is a brilliant operation by the Carabinieri. However, Rosalia's house was under the surveillance of the police, who essentially "endure" the decision of the Public Prosecutor to send in the Carabinieri to place new bugs. This continues to fuel tensions between the law enforcement bodies. Police sources assert multiple times that they were close to capturing Messina Denaro and were overtaken at the last turn.

Postal Surveillance:
The police intercepted letters from Messina Denaro to his sister, delivered via traditional postal services. This revelation indicated that the boss was alive, and closing in on Rosalia Messina Denaro might lead to finding him. The police intercepted, opened, and resealed the letters around May 2022. During the same period, a cryptic note arrived at Rosalia's from her brother, signaling, "The railway has exploded." From that point, communications between the two ceased.

Capture Contrary to Tradition:
Former General of the Carabinieri, Mario Mori, explains how major fugitives were captured in Italy's history. In contrast, Messina Denaro's arrest happened differently. After apprehending the boss, only then were his accomplices discovered.

Unlikely Accomplices:
Contrary to thirty years of imagining high-level complicity, it turns out that Matteo Messina Denaro's network primarily comprised individuals beneath suspicion. Mostly orbiting around the historically entrenched Mafia family of Campobello di Mazara, the Bonafede family, whose patriarch, Leonardo, even provided protection during the fugitive years of Matteo's father, Francesco.

A Boss of a Different Kind:
Emerging details from found notes, letters to sisters, and investigations depict a boss quite different from the feared image cultivated over the years. While there's much talk about Messina Denaro's wealth, few notice that in the one found note discussing money, the boss asks his sister to approach someone named "Parmigiano" (apparently a prominent local entrepreneur) to request a €40,000 loan. The head of Cosa Nostra in Trapani needs to borrow money. The narrative almost portrays him as a victim of usury.

Mystery of Thirty Years:
The biggest doubt remains: where has Messina Denaro been for these thirty years? Is it truly possible that he lived openly, traveling, without anyone among the hundreds hunting him noticing? Despite extensive searches, sophisticated interception systems, and years of investigation, he led a seemingly 'normal' existence without much hiding. These are the words of Judge Alfredo Montalto, emphasizing the paradox of how the most wanted fugitive globally managed to live an almost 'normal' life, showcasing his recognizable face and identity.

In conclusion, despite numerous articles, books, memoirs, and reports on Messina Denaro's arrest, the magistrate's words stand out as the most impactful.