Gangster’s wife killed as mob violence rises

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 26, 2026

Silvana Sibarelli, wife of suspected mafia member Damiano Pepe, was fatally shot in an ambush in Calabria's Cassano all’Ionio, while Pepe survived with injuries. The killing signals a possible breakdown of a fragile truce between rival ’Ndrangheta clans, raising fears of renewed violent conflict in the region’s criminal underworld.

The wife of a suspected mafia figure was fatally shot in Calabria’s Cassano all’Ionio, raising concerns about a resurgence of violence between rival criminal clans in the region. Silvana Sibarelli, 60, was killed in an ambush outside her home on Friday, along with her husband Damiano Pepe, 64, who survived the attack with injuries. Pepe, believed to be the target, is reported to have held a significant position within the local organized crime network and was released in 2019 after serving a 26-year prison sentence for murder.

Details about the number of assailants and the exact circumstances of the shooting remain unclear. The attack marks the latest incident in what some local sources describe as a deteriorating peace among the ’Ndrangheta clans, notorious for their involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal enterprises.

Gianpaolo Iacobini, mayor of Cassano all’Ionio, characterized the incident as another violent episode typical of the ’Ndrangheta’s operational methods, emphasizing the need for the community to resist the influence of organized crime.

Pepe is affiliated with the Abbruzzese family, a clan frequently in competition with the Forastefano family for control in the area. Both families are reported to be deeply involved in the cocaine trade. Historically, the two clans maintained a truce, cooperating on business activities and dividing territories in order to avoid open conflict. However, authorities fear that this fragile peace may have ended.

Anna Sergi, a professor specializing in the sociology of law and deviance at the University of Bologna and an expert on the ’Ndrangheta, suggests the resumption of violence may have been triggered by the 2018 murder of Leonardo Portoraro, a former influential boss known for his opposition to the Abbruzzese clan.

Sibarelli’s death is notable as she is the third woman in recent years to be killed in attacks connected to the local mafia clashes in Cassano all’Ionio. Sergi noted that while the mafia traditionally refrains from targeting women as part of an unwritten code of honor, this practice appears to be eroding, possibly linked to the intensification of drug trafficking disputes. The incident underscores growing concerns about an escalation of violent rivalries among Calabria’s organized crime groups.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.