In a major operation targeting the infamous Gambino crime family, sixteen alleged leaders and associates were arrested on Tuesday in the United States and Italy, according to prosecutors. The arrests were made by authorities in the New York area and Palermo, Sicily.

Out of the sixteen suspects, ten were apprehended in the New York area, and the remaining six were captured in Palermo. The US Department of Justice has disclosed that one suspect is still on the run.

The US-based suspects are scheduled to appear in court in New York on Wednesday. Among those arrested were significant figures in the Gambino family hierarchy, including Joseph "Joe Brooklyn" Lanni, who held a leadership role as a "captain," Angelo "Fifi" Gradilone, an alleged Gambino soldier, and Francesco Vicari, also known as "Uncle Ciccio," an alleged Sicilian mafia associate and Gambino associate.

The Gambino crime family is one of the prominent New York-area mafia syndicates collectively known as La Cosa Nostra. Previously headed by notorious boss John Gotti until his demise in prison in 2002, and later led by Frank Cali, who was murdered outside his Staten Island residence in March 2019, the family has a long and notorious history.

Frank Cali's assassination was the first targeted killing of a Mafia boss in New York City since the death of Paul Castellano, the then-head of the Gambino family, back in 1985. In recent times, numerous investigations and police operations have been launched to dismantle and curb the activities of the Gambino family both in the United States and Italy.

The arrests of these sixteen alleged members of the Gambino crime family represent another significant blow to the organization and further demonstrate the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime. As investigations continue and suspects face legal proceedings, authorities aim to expose and dismantle the extensive criminal networks associated with the notorious Gambino family.

The arrest of such a significant number of high-ranking members underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle organized crime syndicates in both countries. The battle against the Gambino family and other criminal organizations remains a pressing priority for authorities in the United States and Italy.