Sicilian Mafia Members on Scooters Fire AK-47s During Illegal Horse-and-Cart Street Race
A shocking video that recently surfaced on social media has put a spotlight on one of Italy’s most dangerous and persistent criminal traditions. The footage, reportedly filmed in Palagonia, Sicily, shows an illegal horse-drawn cart race tearing through public streets while spectators on scooters fire Kalashnikov rifles and pistols into the air. The clip quickly spread online and triggered a police investigation that has since led to arrests, questioning of multiple individuals, and the seizure of animals. It is yet another glimpse into a world where organized crime and underground racing collide in the most brazen way imaginable.
Police in Catania launched an investigation after the footage surfaced, focusing their efforts on the San Cristoforo district following reports of an unauthorized race accompanied by dozens of onlookers firing gunshots. Two men, aged 40 and 45, were reported to local prosecutors as a result. Officers conducted intensive inspections of multiple stables in the district alongside veterinarians from the regional health department, in order to identify the horses used in the race and place them in safety. The newspaper La Sicilia reported that the horses were subsequently seized and the stables shut down.
For years, illegal horse racing has been a prize enterprise for the ruthless Sicilian mafia, the Cosa Nostra. State prosecutor Amedeo Bertone has noted that individuals reported to the authorities in connection with these events are often part of the broader criminal system, with some carrying prior convictions for mafia association. But it is not purely a financial venture; Sicily’s organized crime figures have long had a deep, personal affinity for horses and betting. Past investigations have confirmed that such races are frequently organized by mafia families tied to Cosa Nostra, the Camorra, and the ‘Ndrangheta.
The money involved is staggering for what appears to be a street-level event. The value of a single bet at these races can range from $100 to $5,000, with total sweepstakes reaching up to $25,000. Races generate large sums of undeclared cash, and the cities where this phenomenon is most entrenched include Catania, Messina, and Palermo, where repeated police raids over the years have led to arrests, prosecutions, and the seizure of illegal stables.
Beyond the criminality and the gunfire, the welfare of the horses themselves tells a deeply troubling story. The Italian animal welfare organization LAV has stated in its annual report that illegal horse races represent one of the most striking displays of criminal prestige and mafia control over a given territory, allowing criminal groups to demonstrate their dominance by occupying and blocking public roads. The horses involved are subjected to whipping, kept in unsanitary conditions, and given banned drugs, with many drawn from the regulated racing industry and fraudulently reused in street competitions.
According to LAV, seven illegal horse races were stopped in 2024 alone, leading to 70 people being reported and the seizure of 29 horses and a pony. Looking further back, between 1998 and 2024, a total of 4,324 people were reported to authorities, 1,430 horses were seized, and 165 clandestine races were disrupted. Those numbers make it clear that despite years of enforcement efforts, this underground world keeps finding ways to carry on. The brazenness of filming and sharing these events on social media suggests that for some of those involved, the exposure is not a risk but a deliberate show of power.
If you have thoughts on illegal horse racing, animal welfare, or the reach of organized crime in Italy, share them in the comments.
