14 people have been arrested in and around the Italian city of Palermo in an operation targeting the Sicilian Mafia.
Police said several important members of the Mafia controlling the Palermo suburb of Boccadifalco were arrested.
Salvatore Lo Piccolo, one of the bosses who succeeded Bernardo Provenzano after his arrest in April last year and who has been at large since 1983, is closely linked to the group.
Rosario Bordonaro, the mayor of the small town of Baucina, south of Palermo, was arrested as well as two former employees of the Torretta town hall, suspected of allowing Mafia members to infiltrate.
The suspected infiltration prompted the interior ministry to dissolve Torretta's municipal council in 2005.
The 14 people arrested overnight are suspected of Mafia association, racketeering and money laundering.
A week ago, police arrested a leading Sicilian Mafia chief, Franco Franzese, who was among Italy's 30 most wanted and had ties with Lo Piccolo.
