Franco Muto, an octogenarian and reputed leader of the ‘ndrangheta in Cetraro, Calabria, has been placed under house arrest following his release from prison.

Muto, commonly referred to as the ‘King of Fish’, is serving a 20-year sentence for mafia association but has been granted home confinement due to age and health considerations.

This latest development marks a significant turn in a legal saga that began in 2023 when Muto first received permission for house arrest.

However, this decision was revoked by the Tribunal of Supervisory Measures in Catanzaro.

Following an appeal, the Supreme Court recently annulled this ruling, leading to a new assessment of his case, necessitating a return to the initial procedural stage.

Muto is noted as one of the longest-serving bosses within the ‘ndrangheta, overseeing a small yet formidable clan that has fiercely defended its territory and interests.

Investigations by anti-mafia prosecutors have long implicated him in various criminal enterprises.

He reportedly dominated the fish market, a crucial economic sector, and expanded his clan's influence into tourism and public contracts, facilitated by connections in local business and politics, with numerous officials allegedly on the clan’s payroll.

Questions remain regarding Muto's connection to what has been referred to as the “Invisible ‘ndrangheta”, the highest echelon of power within the Calabrian mafia responsible for strategic decisions affecting the entire organization.

Testimonies from several informants suggest that he attended high-level meetings that determined the involvement of Calabrian clans in widespread acts of violence across Europe.

Furthermore, Muto has been linked to the so-called “Ships of Poison” scandal, wherein vessels laden with toxic, and potentially radioactive waste, were allegedly submerged off the coast of Calabria through covert agreements involving intelligence agencies.

Francesco Fonti, a controversial informant, was the first to disclose information about these activities.

Despite acknowledging his participation in various mafia operations, investigations have not yielded substantial results to date.

Each time inquiries have been reopened, they have surfaced significant errors, unexplained omissions, and mysterious incidents that have silenced potential witnesses, leaving the matter of the sunken ships unresolved.

The assassination of Giannino Losardo, a municipal official from Paola, adds another layer of complexity to Muto’s narrative.

Losardo, a former mayor and a member of the Communist party, was vocally critical of the Muto clan in the 1980s, a time when discussing ‘ndrangheta was taboo.

He was shot multiple times in retaliation for his anti-mafia stance and managed to identify his assailants before succumbing to injuries.

Muto has been identified as the primary suspect in orchestrating this attack.

Speculations persist about the interests behind the assassination, including an intention to eliminate a local administrator obstructing certain illicit activities and a prosecutor’s secretary who ensured the integrity of the justice system.

In a past interview, Losardo's son expressed uncertainty about direct connections between his father's political activities and the mafia's criminal undertakings, noting an absence of thorough investigations into potential links.

Reports have also surfaced regarding the clan’s connections with local politics and even judicial officials over the years; however, these allegations have not progressed into formal inquiries.

Muto was acquitted of various charges during trials spanning over four decades, and the community of Cetraro continues to grapple with the silence surrounding these issues.