A homemade bomb placed just meters from the family home of Albanian crime boss Elvis Demçe has reignited fears of a brutal mafia war in Rome. The explosive device, discovered on July 15, is seen not just as a threat, but as a declaration of war — marking the end of any supposed truce between rival criminal groups operating in the Italian capital.
The incident came only a day after a major investigation by Italy’s Carabinieri revealed a disturbing new front in Demçe’s criminal network. From his prison cell in Ascoli, where he is currently serving time, Demçe is suspected of orchestrating kidnappings and violent acts against former allies who have now become enemies — among them, the infamous Fabrizio Fabietti.
Authorities believe the execution of these orders has been carried out by a mixed group of Albanian and Latin American operatives, the same individuals implicated in the attempted assassination of Giancarlo Tei in May 2024 — a major figure in Rome’s drug trade, particularly in the Tor Bella Monaca district.
Since then, Rome has witnessed a sharp escalation in criminal activity. Drug distribution points have become tense battlegrounds, and another explosion in July rocked the Borghesiana neighborhood, targeting the home of a convicted Tunisian with links to Albanian syndicates.
These acts appear to be part of a larger turf war involving remnants of the once-powerful Ponte Milvio gang, formerly led by Fabrizio Piscitelli — better known as "Diabolik" — who was assassinated in mafia style in August 2019. His death left a power vacuum that has fueled volatility across Rome’s criminal underworld. Alliances shift rapidly, betrayals are frequent, and violence has become the primary currency.
The bomb near Demçe’s home goes beyond a threat — it’s a brutal message. His wife and children live there, turning the act into a serious violation of the so-called “code of honor” that once governed organized crime. Rome’s Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office is quietly monitoring the situation, analyzing every move in what is quickly becoming a volatile urban war.
Elvis Demçe has emerged as a central figure in this renewed conflict. In intercepted communications obtained by investigators, he is heard saying, “I’ve built a movie that you’ll only understand when everything happens… everything is ready.” Prosecutors believe these ominous words referred to an upcoming confrontation — possibly even with Giuseppe Molisso, a known affiliate of the Michele Senese clan, another powerful mafia entity in Rome.
But Molisso is not Demçe’s only rival. The growing list of enemies includes Leandro Bennato and Ermal Arapaj — the latter an Albanian once considered a close ally, now a fierce adversary. Their battles over control of drug territories have been marked by bloodshed. While a temporary calm followed several high-profile arrests, it now appears a new wave of violence is looming.
Demçe’s name surfaces in nearly every major criminal clash, abduction, or act of revenge. One of the most shocking cases linked to his orbit is that of DJ Francesco Vitale, who leapt from a balcony to escape his captors. Although Demçe has not been formally tied to the incident, his name is whispered widely on the streets — in a world where silence often screams the loudest.
As investigations deepen, another name resurfaces: Giancarlo Tei, the head of a massive drug trafficking operation in Tor Bella Monaca and a key link between Calabrian and Albanian criminal networks. Ironically, those suspected of trying to kill him are now believed to be following orders from Demçe himself.
In the murky world of Roman organized crime, justice demands hard evidence. But on the street, it takes only a whispered name, a broken alliance — or a bomb left at your doorstep — to start a war. And Rome, once again, stands on the edge of open conflict.