Italian authorities have launched an investigation into seven individuals suspected of operating as a violent gang under the “Latin King” moniker in Genoa. Carabinieri from the Sampierdarena Company executed search warrants against seven individuals, whose members range in age from 15 to 30, following a series of violent incidents targeting South American citizens in the city’s western districts, according to reports from Primocanale and ANSA.
Alleged territorial control through violence
The investigation focuses on a string of assaults and intimidations that took place between October 2025 and July 2026. Investigators allege the suspects sought to assert territorial control in areas including Voltri, Pegli, and the vicinity of the Fiumara shopping center. According to ANSA, the group’s activities often escalated into physical violence on public buses and in local public gardens, where they allegedly brandished weapons to intimidate victims.
The list of items seized during the police searches highlights the nature of the alleged arsenal. Carabinieri recovered two baseball bats, two knives, two cutters, a steel scythe, a metal rod, and a compressed-air pistol. These weapons were reportedly used in various confrontations documented by law enforcement, which have led to formal accusations of aggravated personal injury, severe threats, illegal carrying of weapons, and drug dealing.
Investigators analyze Latin King code of conduct
Among the items retrieved by investigators were various manuscripts, including what authorities described as a “code of conduct” for the Latin King group. This document is currently being analyzed to better understand the internal hierarchy and operational methods of the organization. The investigation is being coordinated by both the ordinary Prosecutor’s Office and the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office of Genoa, reflecting the age range of the suspects.
Of the seven individuals currently under investigation, two are minors, and a third was under the age of 18 at the time of the alleged offenses. While the investigation into their activities continues, authorities are also working to identify the individuals who purchased drugs from the group. The focus remains on establishing individual responsibilities for the specific acts of violence and the broader criminal activity documented by the Carabinieri over the ten-month period.
Timeline of reported activity
The incidents linked to the investigation occurred consistently over a period of nearly a year, beginning in the autumn of 2025 and continuing through the summer of 2026. As the legal proceedings move forward, the Prosecutor’s Office continues to process the evidence gathered from the searches to determine the next steps in the prosecution of the group.
