Mafia Hijinks

If the enduring popularity of films such as "The Godfather", "Scarface", and "Goodfellas" as well as games such as the "Grand Theft Auto" series tells us anything it's that people still have a fascination with crime syndicates. For some reason there has long been a desire to know about life within a Mafia family and the certain 'mystique' that surrounds it. But if you think movies or video games are the only place you can see or hear about the types of adventures that seem fictional, you need to check out the news from Italy.

Apparently the purported boss of the Southern Italian crime syndicate Neapolitan Camorra, the infamous Giuseppe Setola, pulled off an escape from Italian police that has led many to shake their heads in wonder at the audacity and cleverness. Setola had already been under house arrest for his alleged part in other crimes perpetrated by Neapolitan Camorra but he had been released due to the fact that he was suffering from eye problems. Recently he was part of an investigation by police into the gangland-style murder of six African immigrants in Naples. This murder led to widespread rioting which required the use of government deployed soldiers needed to help restore peace.

The police began closing in on the heads of the family and had surrounded Setola in his hideout. However, by the time the police closed in and entered the premises, they realized that Setola was no longer inside. A search revealed a trapdoor located beneath the bed which led to a locked door which ultimately led to the complex and ancient sewer systems beneath the city of Casserta. By the time police managed to bypass the complex door locks and enter the sewers themselves, Setola had already managed to escape from custody and is still 'on the lam' from the police.

Though it is no laughing matter that a crimeboss with suspected connections to a series set of murders is still on the loose, I can't help but think how much like the movies this real-life escape really is. I can't think how many times I've sat in movies and wondered how implausible it is to think of such skulduggery leading to the escape and evasion by criminals from the hands of justice and yet here is a perfect example. It would be something that even James Bond would be proud of.