Heist movie is a hit with Mafia suspects

UNDERCOVER police monitored the star-studded Ocean’s Twelve production in Sicily, after suspected mobsters were noticed hanging around the set.

The sequel to the heist hit starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts has been shooting in Italy for weeks, including this month in the seaside town of Scopello, western Sicily. An investigation of the local mob noticed some Mafia suspects were stationed near the set, police official Giuseppe Linares said.

The mobsters may have been looking to extort money or could have been worried that a secret alcove used to hide arms in the area could be discovered during the production, he said. Undercover and uniformed police watched the set, he said.

The film’s crew and cast were unaware of the investigation and of the local Mafia activity, Mr Linares said, adding that authorities did not inform the filmmakers of the secret surveillance. No crimes were recorded at the set. News of the unusual movie-monitoring emerged when police in Trapani announced they had arrested 19 alleged mobsters after a two-year investigation. The gang’s alleged crimes revolved largely around the extortion of local businesses around Castellammare del Golfo, near Trapani.