(AGI) Rome, Dec 11 - A police operation in Milan, Matera,Trapani and New York, led to the arrest of eight suspects onthe orders of the Potenza investigating magistrate at therequest of the anti-mafia prosecutor. All the suspects areaccused of transnational criminal association to commitextortion, aggravated by mafia-style methods. The operationconcluded a complex investigation, coordinated by theAnti-Mafia District Prosecutors of Potenza, and conducted byofficers of the Central Operation Service of the State Policeand the Matera flying squad. The investigations, which beganover a year ago, were performed on the sidelines of aninvestigation by the anti-mafia prosecutors of Reggio Calabriacalled New Bridge, which in February led to the arrest of 26people and the break up of a mafia connection between Calabriaand the United States, dedicated to international drugtrafficking. The investigations, supported by various technicalservices, uncovered the activities of the Cosa Nostra and the'Ndrangheta in America, as well as the current dynamics withinthe historical Mafia families in New York. Those arrestedincluded Salvatore Farina, the son of the boss of Castellammaredel Golfo (Trapani) Ambrogio Farina. Francesco Palmieri,believed to be a member of the Gambino U.S. Mafia family, andGiovanni Grillo, known as Johnny, considered the key figure inthe investigation, who was picked up at Malpensa airport as hewas embarking on a flight for the United States. The othersarrested are Carlo Brillante, Raffaele Valente, Daniele Cavoto,Michele Amabile and Francesco Vonella, already involved in theNew Bridge investigation that revealed links between theGambino family and 'Ndrangheta gangs. (AGI) . .