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AC Milan ultra leader Luca Lucci is under investigation for drug trafficking, mafia ties, and a 2019 attempted murder. The case highlights links between ultras and organized crime.
Italian authorities have launched a major investigation into Luca Lucci, the leader of AC Milan's radical fan group. Already imprisoned for charges related to criminal conspiracy with mafia-style methods, Lucci is now under scrutiny for his alleged role in the importation and distribution of over 2 tons of drugs across Italy.
The investigation links Lucci to the powerful 'Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia known as one of the most influential criminal organizations globally. On Monday, Italian authorities issued 20 arrest warrants, including one for Lucci, as part of a sweeping operation targeting drug trafficking between the northern region of Lombardy and Calabria in the south.
Allegations pile up
In addition to the drug trafficking investigation, Lucci is also being probed for his alleged involvement in the 2019 attempted murder of another ultra, Enzo Anghinelli, who survived despite being shot multiple times in the face. Prosecutors believe Lucci may have acted as an instigator in the attack, with his associate Danilo Cataldo—already arrested—carrying out the shooting.
These allegations add to Lucci's already extensive legal troubles. He remains in prison alongside 18 other ultras, including members of Inter Milan’s radical groups, accused of illicit activities around the San Siro stadium, where they are alleged to have engaged in mafia-style criminal enterprises.
A high-stakes investigation
The investigation into Lucci and his associates represents one of the most high-profile cases involving ultra groups in Italian football. The combination of drug trafficking, mafia affiliation, and violent crimes has shed a harsh light on the connections between organized crime and radical fan groups in Italy.