SHARE
COPY LINK

CRIME

Sicily blackmailers threatened to destroy 230 bottles of fine wine

Sicilian police on Wednesday arrested three men for the theft of 230 bottles of valuable wine - and then demanding money in exchange for its safe return.

Sicily blackmailers threatened to destroy 230 bottles of fine wine
File photo of Italian wine: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP

The trio broke into a restaurant in Taormina, Tiramisù, where they broke the CCTV cameras and burglar alarm, before making their getaway with 230 bottles of fine wine.

The total value of the drinks was €40,000, with each bottle worth an average of €200, but some up to €1,000, according to Il Giornale di Sicilia. The bottles of wine and champagne came from all across Italy and the world and included rare varieties.

What's more, the wines were worth even more in lost revenue to the restaurant, which would have sold them to customers at a mark-up.

The thieves didn't intend on sampling the drinks themselves though: instead, the culprits contacted the restaurant owners demanding they pay up €15,000 for it to be returned. If they didn't receive the ransom money, they warned, the wines would be destroyed.

The incident dates back to May 2016, but Taormina's police force announced on Wednesday that they had identified and charged the perpetrators following a ten-month investigation.

Police named the thieves as Salvatore Santangelo, aged 39, Alfio Petralia, 48, and Antonino Nicosia, 26. Santangelo, thought to be the mastermind of the theft, was taken to the local jail, while his two accomplices were placed under house arrest.

Police did not however reveal the fate of the stolen wine.

Food thefts are not uncommon in Italy, with some of its most famous products popular targets for criminals.

A spike in cheese theft saw robbers make off with an estimated €6 million worth of Italy's prized Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese between 2014 and 2016. The combination of high value – one 40kg wheel is typically worth €500 – and small, rural producers which aren't equipped with anti-theft seasons makes the cheese warehouses an irresistible target. 

And two years ago, Ligurian police foiled an attempted heist of 29kg of Nutella, the popular chocolatey hazelnut spread, which the thieves reportedly planned to sell on the black market. 

READ ALSO: The world's first wine school is opening in Italy

The world's first wine school will soon open in Italy

Photo: Lori Branham/Flickr

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

TERRORISM

Terror alerts: Should I be worried about travelling to Italy?

Italy is on its highest-level terror alert and ministers have warned the public to be vigilant over the Easter holidays - so is there cause for concern if you're planning to travel in the country?

Terror alerts: Should I be worried about travelling to Italy?

Italian authorities agreed on Monday to increase anti-terrorism monitoring ahead of the Easter holidays, with more surveillance to be carried out at popular tourist spots and at “sensitive sites”.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had stressed to the public on Sunday that Italy faced “no concrete risk” at the moment, and said the country’s security and law enforcement services were “always on the alert to prevent any attack.”

READ ALSO: Italy on maximum terror alert over Easter after Moscow attack

Nevertheless, he warned that “during the Easter holidays you will need to be very careful.”

Italy has been on its highest-level terror alert since October 2023 following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, meaning the official alert level could not be raised any further on Monday.

The plan for increased surveillance and the warnings to the public in Italy came following the terrorist attack at a concert hall in Moscow on Friday where armed men opened fire and set the building ablaze, killing at least 133 people.

Ministers said that terror plots on this scale, organised by groups, “would be intercepted sooner in Italy” and said the main terror threat Italy faced at the moment was mainly from “lone wolves”.

He was referring to the fact that recent deadly attacks in Europe have often been carried out by a single perpetrator, not affiliated to a terrorist organisation. The profile of attackers is often isolated young men who have become radicalised.

Unlike most other major European countries, Italy has not so far suffered any deadly attacks at the hands of jihadist militants.

Experts have suggested that Italy has been able to prevent attacks partly due to lessons learned from anti-mafia policing, and that it also has a lower number of citizens at risk of radicalisation than countries like the UK or France – and therefore fewer suspects to watch.

The country arrests dozens of suspects every year on terrorism charges following surveillance operations. Earlier in March, three men of Palestinian origin were arrested in the Abruzzo town of l’Aquila, alleged to be involved in an organised terror plot.

In 2023, at least 56 foreign nationals were deported from Italy after facing terror-related charges.

Italy is generally seen as being at a lower risk of being hit by a major terror attack than some neighbouring countries. So what exactly does the raised alert level mean for people in the country?

Heightened security

While much of Italy’s counter-terrorism work goes on behind the scenes, there will be increased police and military patrols over Easter in busy public places deemed “sensitive”, including shopping centres and places of worship.

The most visible manifestation of the heightened security alert in Italy is the armed soldiers on patrol outside government buildings, tourist attractions, airports, train stations, central squares and in other busy public areas.

Unlike in some other European countries, Italy’s airports do not regularly experience bomb hoaxes and other threats. While no additional security checks for passengers are being introduced, security is likely to remain tight at Italian airports this Easter, as at all European transport hubs.

If you’re visiting a major tourist attraction over Easter or attending any type of large public event, expect a high level of security at the door.

Travel advice

So far, no country has warned its nationals against visiting Italy – the US State Department still lists the alert level for Italy as Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, which has seen no change since July 2023. 

SHOW COMMENTS