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Multilayer Network Analysis: The Identification of Key Actors in a Sicilian Mafia Operation

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Future Access Enablers for Ubiquitous and Intelligent Infrastructures (FABULOUS 2021)

Abstract

Recently, Social Network Analysis studies have led to an improvement and to a generalization of existing tools to networks with multiple subsystems and layers of connectivity. These kind of networks are usually called multilayer networks. Multilayer networks in which each layer shares at least one node with some other layer in the network are called multiplex networks. Being a multiplex network does not require all nodes to exist on every layer. In this paper, we built a criminal multiplex network which concerns an anti-mafia operation called “Montagna” and it is based on the examination of a pre-trial detention order issued on March 14, 2007 by the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Messina (Sicily). “Montagna” focus on two Mafia families called “Mistretta” and “Batanesi” who infiltrated several economic activities including the public works in the north-eastern part of Sicily, through a cartel of entrepreneurs close to the Sicilian Mafia. Originally we derived two single-layer networks, the former capturing meetings between suspected individuals and the latter recording phone calls. But some networked systems can be better modeled by multilayer structures where the individual nodes develop relationships in multiple layers. For this reason we built a two-layer network from the single-layer ones. These two layers share 47 nodes. We followed three different approaches to measure the importance of nodes in multilayer networks using degree as descriptor. Our analysis can aid in the identification of key players in criminal networks.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. DMI Department, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 34, 90123, Palermo, Italy

    Annamaria Ficara

  2. MIFT Department, University of Messina, V.le F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166, Messina, Italy

    Annamaria Ficara, Giacomo Fiumara & Salvatore Catanese

  3. DICAM Department, University of Messina, V.le G. Palatuci 13, 98168, Messina, Italy

    Pasquale De Meo

Authors
  1. Annamaria Ficara
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  2. Giacomo Fiumara
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  3. Pasquale De Meo
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  4. Salvatore Catanese
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Annamaria Ficara .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Dragan Perakovic

  2. Technical University of Košice, Prešov, Slovakia

    Lucia Knapcikova

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Ficara, A., Fiumara, G., De Meo, P., Catanese, S. (2021). Multilayer Network Analysis: The Identification of Key Actors in a Sicilian Mafia Operation. In: Perakovic, D., Knapcikova, L. (eds) Future Access Enablers for Ubiquitous and Intelligent Infrastructures. FABULOUS 2021. Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, vol 382. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78459-1_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-78459-1_9

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-78459-1

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