Prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia warns of mafia‑run prisons with smartphones and drones

Maurizio De Lucia mafia smartphones prison drones 41-bis regime Messina Denaro assets

Prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia of Palermo testified before the national anti‑mafia commission, stating that arrested mafia members receive smartphones within hours of entering prison, allowing them to continue directing criminal activities. He said the 41‑bis regime remains effective for top bosses but many mid‑level inmates under less strict security obtain phones and evade isolation.

De Lucia also warned that Cosa Nostra is acquiring military‑grade drones capable of dropping mines, sourced from the Balkan black market and linked to the Russia‑Ukraine war. Seizures of 297 smartphones in Palermo prisons between January 2025 and mid‑2026 have been recorded, and similar contraband—including phones delivered by drones—has been found in other facilities such as Prato.

The prosecutor highlighted ongoing investigations into the network of the late boss Matteo Messina Denaro, which have resulted in the seizure of about €200 million in assets in coordination with seven foreign states. Justice Minister Carlo Nordio described De Lucia’s statements as “out of control”, prompting political debate and calls for stronger prison security measures.

Entities: 41‑bis regime · Carlo Nordio · Cosa Nostra · Italian prison system · Italian prison system · Matteo Messina Denaro · Maurizio De Lucia · Palermo

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Opaque procedures in the ambulance‑service contract were referred to the public prosecutor and Court of Auditors. (Sicilian regional anti‑mafia commission)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Many organized‑crime inmates are not placed under the strict 41‑bis regime because they lack senior roles within the mafia. (Prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Mafia smartphones enable inmates to give orders to external criminal networks and bypass prison restrictions. (Prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The 2025 regional anti‑mafia commission report noted a rise in mafia use of social media, encrypted chats, and a “culture of favor” fueling corruption. (Sicilian regional anti‑mafia commission)
[● 2 SOURCES] Maurizio De Lucia warned that Cosa Nostra is acquiring advanced technology, including drones capable of dropping mines. (Prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The weapons and drones used by the mafia are sourced from the Balkan black market, a supply chain that grew with the war in Ukraine. (Prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia)
[● 2 SOURCES] Drones have been used to smuggle encrypted phones into Palermo prisons, with 297 phones seized from two prisons since January 2025. (Prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia)
[● 5 SOURCES] Drones are used to smuggle phones, SIM cards and other contraband into Italian prisons. (Prosecutor De Lucia)
[○ 1 SOURCE] In the Prato prison, 27 phones, 1.6 kg of hashish and 69 g of cocaine were seized between 1 April and 27 July 2026. (prosecutor Luca Tescaroli)
[● 2 SOURCES] Mafia groups are seeking or acquiring weapons capable of dropping mines via drones. (multiple)
[● 5 SOURCES] The 41‑bis regime remains effective for top mafia bosses but does not apply to many mid‑level inmates who obtain phones. (prosecutor Maurizio De Lucia)
[● 8 SOURCES] Mafia members receive mobile phones within a few hours of entering prison. (multiple)