A chilling episode of violence has shaken Marsala, exposing once again the dangerous underbelly of drug trafficking and armed intimidation in the city. What began as the theft of a few cannabis plants escalated into a night of terror for a 67-year-old woman, culminating in gunfire, threats of murder, and a violent home invasion.
A 3 A.M. Home Invasion That Turned into a Nightmare
In the early hours between December 9 and 10, 2025, at around 3:00 a.m., Antonina Rita Scardino was awakened by screams and noises coming from the street. As she moved through her home, she noticed something deeply unsettling: her front door was already open.
Moments later, she came face to face with Antony and Giuseppe Licari, brothers from Marsala whom she had known for years. According to her testimony, Antony Licari was armed with a gray pistol, visibly agitated, and immediately demanded to know the whereabouts of her son.
Before she could respond, she was headbutted in the face.
The brothers stormed through the house, repeatedly shouting:
“Where is your son? We have to kill him.”
The son was not at home. Before fleeing, Antony Licari allegedly fired a shot into the air and kicked in the front door, leaving behind terror, damage, and fear.
The woman later told investigators she did not immediately file a complaint because she feared for her life and her son’s safety.
The Trigger: Stolen Cannabis Plants
Investigators reconstructed the events leading up to the raid. Shortly before the home invasion, Simone Ivan Dulcetta allegedly entered a garage on Via Alcamo, used by the Licari brothers, to steal two or three marijuana plants.
As he attempted to leave, the alarm was triggered.
Antony Licari reportedly arrived at the scene and chased Dulcetta through the street, shouting death threats and calling for his brother. Dulcetta managed to hide and call emergency services. While this chase was unfolding, the armed brothers allegedly carried out the violent raid at his mother’s home.
A Garage Turned into a Cannabis Greenhouse
Carabinieri investigations soon focused on the garage itself. What they uncovered went far beyond small-scale cultivation.
Inside an abandoned building—officially registered to the brothers’ deceased grandmother—officers discovered:
- Dozens of cannabis plants, many freshly cut
- Heat lamps and reflective sheets
- Technical cultivation equipment
- Detailed cultivation instructions
- An illegal electricity connection to the public grid
According to the investigating judge, this was not personal or domestic use, but a structured and organized operation aimed at drug production.
The Missing Gun — and the Evidence That Remains
Although the firearm used during the raid was never recovered, investigators consider the evidence compelling.
- Two .32 caliber bullets were found in the garage
- The ammunition was compatible with the weapon described by the victim
- No shell casings were found, consistent with a shot fired into the air
- Antony Licari was arrested with a fresh wound on his right hand, consistent with breaking down the door
- Blood traces were found on the damaged entrance
For the court, these elements confirm the use of a weapon as a means of intimidation.
Continued Threats After the Attack
The violence did not end with that night.
On December 19, Dulcetta told investigators that the Licari brothers returned, demanding €9,000 as “compensation” for the stolen cannabis plants. If he failed to pay, they warned, they would move on to “other situations”—a phrase interpreted as an explicit threat.
This episode reinforced the climate of fear surrounding the case and played a significant role in the judge’s assessment.
A History of Violence and Punitive Raids
Court documents highlight that Antony Licari was already known to authorities. In October 2020, he was arrested in connection with a series of violent punitive raids and racist attacks in Marsala’s historic center.
Investigations at the time described:
- Night-time assaults on migrants and non-EU citizens
- Attacks carried out with kicks, punches, and blunt objects
- A climate of ethno-racial hatred, described as “brutal and ruthless”
Many victims did not report the attacks out of fear, a pattern that investigators say mirrors the silence and intimidation seen in the current case.
The Judge’s Decision: Pre-Trial Detention in Prison
On January 5, the preliminary investigations judge of the Marsala Court ordered pre-trial detention in prison for both Antony and Giuseppe Licari.
According to the court, there is:
- Serious evidence of guilt
- A real and concrete risk of reoffending
- Escalating violence involving weapons
- A persistent climate of fear among victims
Given these factors, the judge ruled out any alternative measures.
A Stark Warning for Marsala
This case stands as a stark reminder of how drug-related crimes can quickly spiral into armed violence, placing innocent lives at risk. It also highlights the importance of law enforcement intervention in breaking cycles of intimidation that often keep victims silent.
As investigations continue, the community of Marsala is left grappling with the broader question: how to restore safety and trust in neighborhoods shaken by fear, violence, and organized criminal activity.
Reference link: https://www.tp24.it/2026/01/08/cronaca/droga-violenza-minacce-e-spari-la-notte-di-terrore-per-una-donna-a-marsala/228149
