Inside the largest police probe against the Mafia in Canada, Project Colisée was an immense three-year investigation into the Rizzuto clan, the long-time head of the powerful Mafia in Montreal. \r
The investigation finally pierced through to the core, the inner sanctum of the Sicilian Mafia in the city, which was the most powerful and successful criminal organization Canada has known. Investigators placed wiretaps and cameras in their key meeting spots, including the Club Social Consenza, the senior Rizzuto leaderships café where they met in the back room to divide cash between them. \r
Police found many targets to chase: cocaine importation; corruption and bribery of government officials; online bookmaking and gambling; s of violence; and other crimes. Other evidence was not pursued by police, such as the hours of meetings between mobsters and businessmen where cash was handed over, footage that was eventually shown at the Charbonneau commission into corruption in Quebecs construction industry.\r
The primary target was initially Vito Rizzuto, the boss of the organization. When Vito was arrested on racketeering charges in the United States for three gangland murders (the “three captains” murders immortalized in the film Donnie Brasco), their priority shifted to the remaining inner circle.\r
After sweeping raids, police arrested six key leaders, including: Nicolo Rizzuto, Vitos father and the familys patriarch; Paolo Renda, Vitos brother-in-law and his consigliore; Rocco Sollecito, a senior and long-time member; and Francesco Arcadi, who was the street boss. Also arrested were the heads of their street crews who backed up Vitos words with muscle and bullets: Francesco Del Balso and Lorenzo Giordano.\r
Arrests and raids were made on Nov. 22, 2006. The six leaders accepted guilty pleas in Sept. 2008.\r
It was the beginning of the end for the Rizzuto clans stranglehold on the mob. \r
This video is a detailed briefing on Projet Colisée by the RCMP presented at the Charbonneau commission, prepared in new and presented by Corp. Vinicio Sebastiano at the CEIC hearings. It makes great viewing and reading. It is in French, so apologies to my anglo viewers, but it doesnt take much effort to follow along. And the pictures are good in every language.\r
Lutte contre le clan Rizzuto.\r
For more information, please read by book on the Rizzutos and their downfall, called The Sixth Family: The Collapse of the American Mafia and the Rise of Vito Rizzuto, written with Lee Lamothe and published by HarperCollins.\r
The music here is Dawn by Canadian musician Ross Bugden.\r
For more information, visit .\r
To read my exposés in the National Post, visit: \r
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Thanks for watching!\r
- The Mob Reporter\r
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