Italy-USA: Eight held in trans-Atlantic mafia extortion swoop

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Police in New York and Italy have arrested eight people in an extortion case that appears to show trans-Atlantic mafia ties are still strong.

Among those held are New Yorker Francesco Palmeri, 61, considered a key member of the notorious Gambino mob family in the city.

His detention was ordered by a court in Italy where other arrests were made

The eight people were detained on suspicion of trying to extort 1 million euros
from an Italian businessman, according to an arrest warrant seen by Reuters.