Palermo Chief Prosecutor Maurizio de Lucia said Tuesday that the Mafia are seeking to buy drone weapons like those being used in the Ukraine war.

“We have found weapons originating from Salento (in Puglia) but which actually came from the Balkans – the former Yugoslavia,” de Lucia told parliament’s anti-mafia commission.

“But we are aware of the Mafia’s interest in more sophisticated weapons.

“For example, those that have emerged on the black market during the Russia-Ukraine war.

“We have indications of purchases of drone-launched munitions—weapons against which we are unprepared to defend ourselves.
“So there is an attempt to rebuild a high-quality arsenal.

“This is true both in the Palermo district and in other areas”.