In 1969 a man hurriedly lent a substantial sum to a group of three borrowers whose primary virtue was a connection with the Agrigento mafia. When he demanded payment, he was kidnaped at the Palermo airport, held for a few hours, and invited to reflect on his situation. He reemerged fully convinced of the advisability of accepting the mediation of Antonio Ferro, a friend of Colletti's and a prominent boss of the Agrigento region. Ferro acted as guarantor of a settlement which stipulated that the creditor was to be paid back, but not in full (OSAG: 452).

QUESTION: How common was extrajudicial mafia mediation in this era, and did it effectively bypass state contract enforcement?

Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Busi…, loc. 433