Antonio Imerti

Antonio Imerti (Italian pronunciation: [anˈtɔːnjo iˈmɛrti]; born on August 22, 1946 in Villa San Giovanni), also known as Nano feroce ("fierce dwarf"), is an Italian criminal and a member of the 'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia. He was born in Villa San Giovanni and controlled the Fiumara di Muro neighbourhood in Reggio Calabria.

Antonio Imerti
BornAugust 22, 1946
Villa San Giovanni
NationalityItalian
Other namesNano feroce
Criminal statusCaptured

Life as a fugitive

He was one of the protagonists in the Second 'Ndrangheta war which raged from 1985 to 1991 between the Condello-Imerti clan and the De Stefano-Tegano clan, which left 621 deaths.[1] His marriage in 1983 with Giuseppina Condello – the sister of the Condello brothers, underbosses of Paolo De Stefano – triggered the conflict. The De Stefano clan feared the new alliance might challenge their power base. The conflict exploded in 1985, two years after the marriage and saw practically all the 'ndrine in the city of Reggio Calabria grouped into either one of two opposing factions.[2][3]

The war started with a failed bomb attack on Antonio Imerti on October 11, 1985, which left three of his bodyguards dead.[4] Two days later, his rival Paolo De Stefano was killed and suspicion fell on Imerti as the one who ordered the killing.[2][5]

Disappearance and capture

Imerti escaped a second bomb attack on July 7, 1986, and subsequently became a fugitive. He was arrested on March 23, 1993, in Reggio Calabria, together with his brother-in-law Pasquale Condello. Newspaper reports mentioned that Condello might have surpassed his former boss – and there had been speculation that Condello might have killed Imerti when they both were still fugitives. However, although the speculation proved to be false, Imerti's power had declined because of his opposition to a 'pax mafiosa' to end the war between the opposing clans in Reggio Calabria.[6][7]

See also

References
  1. Godfather's arrest fuels fear of bloody conflict, The Observer, February 24, 2008
  2. Paoli, Mafia Brotherhoods, pp. 88-89
  3. Gratteri & Nicaso, Fratelli di sangue, p. 65
  4. (in Italian) Si e' salvato soltanto il boss, La Repubblica, October 13, 1985
  5. (in Italian) Ucciso il 're delle cosche' e ora lotta per la successione, La Repubblica, October 15, 1985
  6. (in Italian) Manette al capocosca "Nanu Feroce" Imerti e al cognato, Corriere della Sera, March 24, 1993
  7. (in Italian) Preso Imerti, re della ' ndrangheta, La Repubblica, March 24, 1993
  • (in Italian) Gratteri, Nicola & Antonio Nicaso (2006). Fratelli di sangue, Cosenza: Pellegrini Editore, ISBN 88-8101-373-8
  • Paoli, Letizia (2003). Mafia Brotherhoods: Organized Crime, Italian Style, New York: Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-515724-9 (Review by Klaus Von Lampe) (Review by Alexandra V. Orlova)
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