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Cops Seize Mafia Don's 'Croc Weapon'

Mobster accused of threatening to feed extortion victims to 6-foot beast

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 24, 2009 4:20 AM CDT

(Newser) – Italian police have confiscated a crocodile they suspect was used by a Mafia boss to persuade people to cough up protection money. The gangster invited extortion victims to his home and threatened to set the crocodile on them if they didn't pay up, investigators say. He has has been charged with illegal animal possession. The croc has been sent to an animal rehabilitation center in Rome.

Police aren't sure how the crocodile, from a species native to South America, got to Italy.
Police aren't sure how the crocodile, from a species native to South America, got to Italy.   (Shutter Stock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
sailor86
Oct 26, 2009 3:05 AM CDT
they're actually going to convert the croc to vegan.
schmidtkoff
Sep 24, 2009 12:43 PM CDT
they're going rehab the croc to go after the mafia.
jagerhans
Sep 24, 2009 9:41 AM CDT
for the ones who wonder where precisely this happen it's the city of Caserta, not far from Naples, where I lived for years. Traditionally it's a Camorra (Neapolitan mafia) haven. Usually the protection racket (the protection is called «pizzo») does not resort to reptiles to 'persuade' - they rather stick to a romantic nighttime AK-47 Solo in B flat against the roller shutters of the insolvent shops. It is commonplace to hear some faraway monotonous «thump-thump-thump» serenade while you're in bed at night. Magic of Italy.

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