Sicily reports low usury complaints amid concerns of hidden crime

Official data from the Sole 24 Ore Crime Index shows only eight reported cases of usury in Sicily for 2025. The reports are distributed across several provinces: Palermo recorded three cases, while Syracuse, Catania, and Messina each reported two, and Caltanissetta reported one.

Gabriele Urzì, a national official for the Fabi union, warns that these low figures do not reflect the true scale of the phenomenon. He suggests a high level of unreported crime, noting that victims often fail to contact law enforcement or support associations.

Urzì highlighted that usury is both a public order and a socio-economic issue. In areas with high unemployment and limited access to legal credit, organized crime may offer a “mafia welfare” system, acting as a false solution for families and small businesses that cannot secure traditional bank loans. He emphasized the importance of the Usury Prevention Fund and legal assistance to combat this dependency.