10 Facts About Rosetta Cutolo

Rosetta Cutolo was the power behind her brother for over 15 years, passing on his orders from jail and cultivating his devoted followers outside.

Brilliant with figures, Rosetta Cutolo negotiated with South American cocaine barons, narrowly failed to blow up police headquarters, and was glamourized in a film, The Professor.

Rosetta Cutolo participated in a high-level meeting with representatives of the Sicilian Mafia and Camorra clans to try to put an end to the bloody war between the NCO and their rivals from the Nuova Famiglia, together with Cutolo's right-hand man Vincenzo Casillo.

Rosetta Cutolo escaped under a rug in a car driven past checkpoints by the neighbourhood priest.

Rosetta Cutolo was not seen in public thereafter for over 10 years, and directed operations from a series of safe houses in different cities.

Rosetta Cutolo appeared at the entrance, saying "I am tired of being a fugitive".

Rosetta Cutolo had been sentenced in absentia in 1990 to nine years in prison on charges of Mafia association, later reduced to five years.

Rosetta Cutolo had persuaded the authorities she was harmless, and her frumpy image definitely helped.

Nevertheless, it is clear that Rosetta Cutolo had always wanted to maintain a male-only organization based on principles such as criminal fraternity, and so he could never be seen giving a role to his sister.

Rosetta Cutolo died on 14 October 2023, at the age of 86.