Benedetto Capizzi, a name synonymous with the dark underbelly of the Sicilian Mafia, passed away on September 12, 2023, at the age of 79. The demise of this notorious mobster marks the end of a tumultuous era that saw his involvement in organized crime, a failed attempt to reconstitute the Mafia Commission, and a life marked by secrecy, violence, and incarceration.
Born on June 28, 1944, Capizzi hailed from the Villagrazia area in Palermo, Sicily. His ascent through the ranks of the Sicilian Mafia was marked by ruthlessness and ambition, culminating in his nomination as the head of the newly proposed Sicilian Mafia Commission.
Capizzi’s notoriety reached its zenith during the infamous “Operation Perseus” (Perseo in Italian) on December 16, 2008. This massive crackdown, named after the Greek mythological hero Perseus who beheaded Medusa, led to the arrest of 94 Mafiosi, including Capizzi himself. The operation aimed to thwart the reconstitution of a new Mafia Commission, following the incarceration of Mafia bosses such as Bernardo Provenzano, Antonio Rotolo, and Salvatore Lo Piccolo in 2006 and 2007.
The objective behind this ambitious operation was to restore the old-fashioned structure of Cosa Nostra, with a single, all-powerful boss, often referred to as the “capo di capi.” Capizzi was identified as a potential candidate for the coveted position within the Commission. The operation also revealed the involvement of other historical Cosa Nostra bosses, including Gerlando Alberti, Gregorio Agrigento, Giovanni Lipari, Gaetano Fidanzati, Giuseppe Scaduto, and Salvatore Lombardo.
Interestingly, many of those apprehended in “Operation Perseus” had recently been released from prison due to health reasons and were serving their sentences under house arrest. The decision to appoint Capizzi as the head of the Commission triggered dissent within the ranks, with some, like Gaetano Lo Presti, expressing their reservations and challenging the appointment.
Lo Presti, who had been appointed boss of the Porta Nuova area of Palermo in 2007 by Lo Piccolo, openly contested the decision, raising questions about its legitimacy. His challenge raised concerns of potential “Mafia wars” erupting on the streets of Sicily. Fearing a violent showdown, the Italian police expedited their operation, resulting in the arrest of 94 individuals. Tragically, Lo Presti, whose intercepted telephone conversations played a pivotal role in the operation, took his own life in his prison cell shortly after being detained.
In 2010, Gaspare Spatuzza, a Mafia member turned informant, implicated Capizzi in the murder of Giuseppe Di Matteo. As a consequence, Capizzi was sentenced to 30 years in prison for his involvement in the heinous crime.
Benedetto Capizzi’s death on September 12, 2023, marks the end of a chapter in Sicilian Mafia history. His life was one marred by crime, power struggles, and incarceration, leaving behind a legacy that serves as a stark reminder of the dark and tumultuous world of organized crime in Italy.