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This is a new crime group, appearing in 1983, called the Sacra Corona Unita (United Sacred Crown). It has some religious
symbolism, similar to the Camorra. SCU leader Giuseppe Rogoli revealed a pyramidal structure to the SCU, with "camorristi"
(soldiers) at the bottom; as well as "sgarristi" (enforcers), "santisti", "evangelisti" and
"trequartino" levels of membership. The "crimine" was the boss.
Informer Cosimo Capodieci said
the SCU used "the Crown (Corona) because it resembles a crown, meaning the rosary typically used in Church in order to
carry out the functions of Jesus Christ and the cross... United (Unita) because it was necessary to be connected to one another,
similar to the rings of a chain." [as quoted in The Global Mafia, pg 69]
Investigations by police and reports
showed the SCU had links to the Colombians, other Italian crime groups, as well as Russian and Asian organized crime groups.
The SCU were behind the smuggling of thousands of Albanians into Italy, and have been called "modern-day slave traders".
The SCU also sent Albanian women into prostitution in Italy.
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