Bravery in the Boot: Women Taking on Italy's Fourth Mafia

In southern Italy, a wave of female professionals is confronting the dangerous Sacra Corona Unita mafia. These courageous women, including judges and journalists, are arresting, prosecuting, and exposing mafia members while working to change local cultural attitudes that have allowed the crime group to flourish.

In a scene reminiscent of "The Godfather," a bloody goat head with a butcher's knife was left at Judge Francesca Mariano's doorstep, signaling the dangerous path she has chosen in confronting the Sacra Corona Unita (SCU), Italy's fourth significant organized crime group.

The SCU is entrenched in the fabric of Puglia, blending illicit activities with legitimate businesses. Local professionals, notably women like Mariano and investigative journalist Marilu Mastrogiovanni, face grave risks in exposing and combating the mafia's operations.

Despite continuous threats, these women remain undeterred, with innovative measures like confiscating and repurposing mafia assets proving effective. Their relentless efforts are crucial in shifting community attitudes and diminishing the mafia's influence, even when it means living under constant police escort.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)